Eric Adams Meets with President Biden to Discuss National Efforts to Fight Back against Gun Violence

By Yehudit Garmaise

     Democratic mayoral primary winner Eric Adams will be meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House today to discuss gun violence, according to the Brooklyn borough president’s public schedule.

     After the June 22 primary, the president publicly showed interest in Adams, who received a congratulatory phone call from Biden, who also thanked Adams for his efforts to fight back against gun violence, according to law enforcement sources.

     This morning at his press conference, Mayor Bill de Blasio said he thought “it is great that they want to hear [Adams’] ideas.

     “He is someone who spent over 20 years as a police officer, and he has some great ideas on how to protect people while continuing reform,” the mayor said, alluding to the balance Adams seems to have struck on both addressing skyrocketing gun violence and shooting deaths, while also pushing for police reform in the face of increasing evidence nationwide of police brutality.

     [Adams] is the borough president of Brooklyn, one of the biggest counties in the whole country,” Mayor de Blasio said. “Of course, it makes sense for him to be there.”

     One issue that Biden is expected to broach with his guests on Wednesday is the possibility of a Joint Terrorism Task Force-style federal approach to stop the flow of illegal firearms as part of the efforts to get guns off the streets.

     “I think the notion of deepening the connection between federal anti-gun efforts and local efforts is absolutely right on,” Mayor de Blasio said. “We have had local leadership from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) a few weeks back talking about efforts that are happening right now, and very close coordination exists between the ATF and the NYPD in that same vein, so this is definitely what we want to see more and more of.

    “We need as much federal help as possible outside the boundaries of New York City to stop the flow of guns into New York City.

    Last week, when Gov. Andrew Cuomo laid out his anti-gun initiative for the state, he also suggested building a “big, beautiful wall that goes for miles and miles” that would keep guns out of New York state.

      Barring his wall that he seemed to jokingly say would have gold leaf and the name “Cuomo” on top, the governor said seriously, “We'll get the State Police, and we're going to a form a special unit to focus on the border and stop illegal guns from coming in.”

     “The White House put together a group of people [including U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland] they wanted to talk to about this issue [of gun violence], and I think it makes sense that Eric brings a particular perspective from 20 plus years as a police officer,” the mayor said. “I think it is great that he is there, and I want them to listen to his voice.

     “I think he has an amazing perspective on the things we need to do going forward.”