ALBANY, N.Y. -- "We are serious about the lives of children," said Reverend Edward Smart. "If a child is allowed to run rampant in the streets and is allowed to use community guns, the question is does a community really care?"
Smart said he's serious about stopping the shootings and preventing a tragedy like the death of Kathina Thomas.
Smart co-chairs Albany's Gun Violence Task Force. He pitched his Kathina Thomas Legislation at the city's Common Council meeting. He said the plan is to hold parents accountable for the actions of their kids. Smart also wants a bill of rights for children and Albany High School students taught parenting skills.
"Children have the right to go school without fear, they have the right to go out and play at night they have the right to be nurtured, and to be loved," said Smart.
Albany's Gun Violence Task Force plans to implement new programs designed to stop violence. To make their recommendations a reality, they say they need the support of people in high places. Our Curtis Schick has more.
Smart's law was just one piece of the Task Force's larger plan. Chair Reverend John Miller said it also wants a gang summit and a crisis intervention team that would respond to shootings.
Miller said proposals are modeled after other programs in place in Rochester and Chicago. To make their recommendations a reality they need the support of people in high places.
"We will make a lot of good recommendations," said Miller. "But we need people in power to step up and do something about the systemic issues."
Miller said with three shootings in Albany over the weekend, the problems aren't going anywhere.