Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard Named 2023 Local Gun Sense Lawmaker of Year at Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund’s Gun Sense University

Local Gun Sense Lawmaker of the Year Awarded to Mayor Patterson-Howard for Her Leadership on Gun Violence Prevention

NEW YORK— Today, Everytown for Gun Safety named Mount Vernon, NY Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard the 2023 Local Gun Sense Lawmaker of the Year for her leadership on gun violence prevention as part of this year’s Gun Sense University.

Mayor Patterson-Howard, who serves as co-chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, was also recently named President of the African American Mayors Association, where she has made gun violence prevention a top priority for the organization. Since her first election as Mayor in 2019, Mayor Patterson-Howard has worked to find innovative ways to reduce gun violence in her community, including adopting a public health model for gun violence prevention by working with the SNUG program to stop the cycle of gun violence. Mayor Patterson-Howard’s administration is also a member of the Cities United cohort, which works to develop community-based strategies to reduce gun violence by collaborating with Mayors, community partners and young leaders to share innovative approaches and strategies for reducing violence and promoting public safety.

“Mayors are on the frontlines of America’s gun violence crisis, and no city leader is working harder to stop the bloodshed than Mayor Patterson-Howard of Mount Vernon,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. “As co-chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Mayor Patterson-Howard has fought relentlessly for measures to prevent gun violence across the country.”

“As a former volunteer with Moms Demand Action and now as co-chair of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Mayor Patterson-Howard has been a national leader in fighting for gun violence prevention at the local level,” said Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director of Moms Demand Action. “Mayor Patterson-Howard has always put the safety of her community first and we’re proud to recognize her leadership with the Local Gun Sense Lawmaker of the Year Award for her commitment to the safety and security of her constituents.”

“I am forever grateful and honored to be named Everytown’s 2023 Local Gun Sense Lawmaker of the Year at this year’s prestigious Gun Sense University,” said Mayor Shawn-Patterson Howard. “Gun Sense University brought together survivors, activists, leading experts, and lawmakers who are committed to advancing gun safety and finding solutions to prevent gun violence. As Co-Chair for Mayors Against Illegal Guns, President of the African American Mayors Association, and cohort participant of the Cities United Road Map Academy, the City of Mount Vernon, New York will be launching the first Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement. Working with the SNUG Program in our local community to promote the reduction of gun violence and adopting this public health model for gun violence prevention to save lives will continue to support my goal to put the ‘public’ back into public safety.”

“Gun violence continues to impact our communities across our state, but thanks to leaders like Mayor Patterson-Howard, we’re making strides to reduce gun violence,” said Barry Graubart, a volunteer with the New York chapter of Moms Demand Action. “As advocates on the ground, we can’t do this work alone. We need elected leaders who will step up to fight with us to pass common-sense gun safety policies — and Mayor Patterson-Howard has been with us every step of the way.”

Gun Sense Lawmaker of the Year is an annual award given at Gun Sense University (GSU) to lawmakers who are setting an example on how to lead on gun safety. Gun Sense University, hosted by Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund (“Everytown for Gun Safety”), together with its grassroots volunteer networks Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, is an annual training and membership conference, bringing together thousands of volunteers and leaders of the gun violence prevention movement from all 50 states and Washington, D.C.