June 21, 2010

By TATYANA TIMOSHENKO 

Three years ago, my life changed forever.

My son Russel, a proud NYPD police officer, was shot by a criminal carrying an illegal gun. Five days later, Russel died in the hospital. He was only 23 years old.

No mother should ever have to go through what I have been through. No family should ever have to endure what my family has endured.

That’s why, since Russel’s death, I have done everything in my power to help our City fight the spread of illegal handguns.

Last week, I asked the New York State Senate to take the next step in fighting gun criminals. I asked our State Senators to vote “yes” on microstamping legislation pending in Albany. Microstamping technology imprints a nearly-invisible code on the shell casings ejected from handguns — giving our police officers an important clue in tracking down gun murderers in New York State.

I asked — but two of New York City’s State Senators refused to listen.

Senator Andrew Lanza, my State Senator, voted “no” on the microstamping bill. In doing so, he said he knew better than me, NYPD Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, Staten Island District Attorney Dan Donovan, and over 80 police departments and organizations in New York State.

Senator Marty Golden skipped the vote altogether — he said he was too busy with a phone call. Too busy to save lives? Or too afraid of the special interests?

In response, I have a simple message for Marty Golden and Andrew Lanza: Shame on you for being soft on gun criminals. Every other State Senator from New York City voted “yes” on microstamping. But you refused to do the right thing.

Marty Golden: Shame on you for not having the courage to stand with law enforcement. As someone who wore the same NYPD uniform that my son wore, I cannot understand why you walked away from such an important vote for our cops.

Andrew Lanza: Shame on you for listening to Albany’s gun lobby, instead of listening to your conscience. In representing my community, I always believed that you would do the right thing for Staten Island. Now, I’m ashamed to call you my State Senator.

Russel always told me that he wanted to be a police officer because he wanted to come home every night feeling like he was helping people.

Our police officers have the hardest job, and every day, they put their lives at risk to protect public safety and to help us in our times of greatest need. Andrew Lanza and Marty Golden — I urge you to listen to your consciences, support the microstamping bill, and to do your job by helping our police officers.

[The writer is a Bay Terrace resident.]