Markowitz: We Can't be Held Hostage by 'Gun-Wielding Madmen' or Lobbyists

In the wake of Friday's fatal shooting of at , New York City officials called for stricter gun laws.

In written statements, area politicians expressed their shock and horror a the massacre, and their sympathy for the families of the victims. 

They also called for tougher gun control laws. 

Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz released a particularly strongly worded statement:

 "All of Brooklyn joins the nation and the world in mourning the loss of so many innocents at Sandy Hook Elementary School inNewtown, Connecticut, and we pray for the full recovery of those wounded.

"Unfortunately, it always takes a senseless tragedy like this—and too many others like it—for Americans to stand up and take notice of our nation’s ongoing love affair with guns, and the critical need for national gun control. Yet it seems as if no tragedy is horrific enough to get federal lawmakers to put aside their philosophical differences, say enough is enough, and do what’s right to safeguard the safety and welfare of the American people. The time for idle talk is over. If not now—after the deaths of children as young as five in a suburban elementary school—then when? We need strong leaders in Congress to stand up to the gun lobby. We need lawmakers with the courage of conviction and the strength to follow through. We need determined voices in this fight to take back our streets and our schools. We cannot be held hostage—literally or figuratively—by gun-wielding madmen or the lobbyists that keep them armed," he wrote.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, in his position as co-chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, wrote:

“With all the carnage from gun violence in our country, it’s still almost impossible to believe that a mass shooting in a kindergarten class could happen. It has come to that. Not even kindergarteners learning their A,B,Cs are safe. We heard after Columbine that it was too soon to talk about gun laws. We heard it after Virginia Tech. After Tucson and Aurora and Oak Creek. And now we are hearing it again. For every day we wait, 34 more people are murdered with guns. Today, many of them were 5-year olds," he wrote.

"President Obama rightly sent his heartfelt condolences to the families in Newtown. But the country needs him to send a bill to Congress to fix this problem. Calling for ‘meaningful action’ is not enough. We need immediate action. We have heard all the rhetoric before. What we have not seen is leadership – not from the White House and not from Congress. That must end today. This is a national tragedy and it demands a national response. My deepest sympathies are with the families of all those affected, and my determination to stop this madness is stronger than ever,” he added.

Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn released a ijoint statment with Councilmen Jumaane Williams and Fernando Cabrera, co-chairs of the Task Force to Combat Gun Violence also calling for change:

“This tragedy is an urgent reminder that we must strengthen the call for serious gun control reform. From Columbine to Oak Creek, from Aurora to Newtown, our country cannot and must not live in fear of weapons designed to kill. We pray that elected leaders, regardless of background, can put a stop to this madness and help save lives," they wrote.

Councilman Mathieu Eugene, who represents Ditmas Park, also called for tougher laws, but in a more subtle manner:

“My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families. A school must be a nurturing and safe environment for our children to learn. As a society, and government, from the highest levels on down, we must do all that can be done to prevent further tragedies such as this from occurring,” he wrote.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo also joined the call: 

"While we don’t have all the facts and our focus must be on the victims, this is yet another senseless and horrific act of violence involving guns. We as a society must unify and once and for all crack down on the guns that have cost the lives of far too many innocent Americans. Let this terrible tragedy finally be the wake-up call for aggressive action and I pledge my full support in that effort," he wrote.