Governors from seven states and territories are forming a coalition to study gun violence because they believe the federal government has not dedicated enough resources to the cause, according to The Hill.
The new consortium will bring together researchers from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Delaware and Puerto Rico.
The Dickey Amendment has long hindered research on gun violence by the federal government, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D, expressed his frustration with lawmakers in Washington D.C. as he unveiled the new consortium.
"The federal government's continued inaction on this issue has not only allowed the epidemic of gun violence to spread, but it has left it to the states to provide the leadership needed to confront this problem head-on," said Mr. Cuomo, according to The Hill. "The consortium is a major step in our multi-state partnership to research responsible gun safety legislation and take new steps to prevent illegal guns from crossing state lines."
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