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Small group opposing upcoming gun show amid city’s rising violence

The back of a yellow shirt that says to pass the Universal Background Checks Act.
Ronnie Parrillo
/
WAER
A demonstrator at a rally opposing a gun show at the New York State Fairgrounds wears a shirt encouraging the passing of the Universal Background Checks Act, in Syracuse, April 21, 2023.

A handful of Syracuse citizens gathered on Friday to protest a gun show set to take place over the weekend.

The gun show is hosted by the New York State Arms Collectors Association at the New York State Fairgrounds.

Jackie LaSonde of the South Side Community Coalition said the gun show sends the wrong message when Syracuse is facing an increase in violence—the Syracuse mayor said shootings so far this year are outpacing last year.

"What are we doing having gun shows in a town that's already ravaged with this?" LaSonde said. "Our children are dying, and they're dying by the minute three just happened just in the last few days. So, So what is our obligation to at least say no more gun shows, we say no, to the gun shows."

LaSonde said the issue needs more attention.

"Let's stop the guns from coming in. And let's start let's be proactive instead of reactive, because it's not getting us anywhere. You know, we can't keep doing thoughts and prayers, people are dying," LaSonde explained. "Downtown is bursting with Micron and all the other things coming in. And the underserved or undervalued communities are being ravaged by this gun violence."

Protesters standing outside of City Hall wearing yellow shirts.
Ronnie Parrillo
/
WAER
Protesters stand outside of City Hall advocating for increased gun safety.

WAER reached out to the New York State Arms Collectors Association, but the organization declined to comment.

At a news briefing Thursday, Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh shared that there have been seven murders this year already, as compared to three at the same time last year, though he did not specifically attribute the fatalities to shootings.

He said overall violent crime rates have been rising in the first few months of this year.