Morning News Brief
Written by Tom Tharp on June 13, 2022
The Senate in Washington has announced a bipartisan agreement on some gun control legislation and New York Politicians are lauding it as a good step in the right direction to keep mass shootings from happening. But some of the survivors of the TOPS shooting are less enthusiastic. Grady Lewis says “This is like putting a band aid over the problem and actually creating a new problem where black people don’t have guns anymore.” The agreement would make the juvenile records of gun buyers under age 21 available when they undergo background checks. It would also offer money to states to implement “red flag” laws that make it easier to temporarily take guns from people considered potentially violent, and to bolster school safety and mental health programs. President Biden said the framework “does not do everything that I think is needed, but it reflects important steps in the right direction.”
This was a weekend of parades and events. The Goose in Oakfield hosted a fundraising event for The Warrior House and held a basket raffle and open house. Dewitt Park had a family outdoor challenge with bug identification and informational sessions. Richmond Memorial Library had a drag queen story hour following the Washington St Pride Parade. The Firing Pin celebrated Freedom weekend and marched in the Bergen Festival Parade. And this weekend had the first Eli Fish Carnival in Jackson Square with special craft brews and Matty’s Pizza, live music and vendors.
Buffalo hosted a March for Our Lives event Saturday on Jefferson Avenue but, much like the march in Washington DC it was marred by fear. At least one person was arrested for carrying a gun in the crowd. 19 year old Amauri Smith was arrested and charged with criminal possession of a weapon. The rally in Washington nearly fell into bedlam when someone yelled out “gun shot” and it caused the thousands strong crowd to start fleeing for fear of a shooter before rally organizers could tell everyone to stop and not run away. Both marches and others around the country were meant to rally against gun violence.
Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame inductee Ryan Miller was in town for the ceremony this weekend and learned he had another honor coming his way. The Buffalo Sabres retiring his number from the team. Miller, number 30, was the goalie for the Sabres for 11 seasons starting in 2005. His 284 wins are a Sabres franchise record. After his career in Buffalo, he played another eight years in the NHL. He retired with the most wins of any American-born goalie. Miller also won a silver medal with Team USA in the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The same year, he won the Vezina Trophy, given to the NHL’s best goaltender.
