A violent stabbing in Brooklyn has reignited calls from state Republicans for tougher involuntary commitment laws, with Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan (R,C-Manchester) urging immediate legislative action to protect New Yorkers.
The incident involved four young girls who were brutally attacked by a relative with a known history of mental illness. Gallahan said the tragedy underscores critical failures in the state’s approach to mental health and public safety.
“Our communities need to be protected from individuals who have demonstrated they pose a direct threat to public safety,” Gallahan said. “The incident that occurred in Brooklyn should not have happened—had stronger involuntary commitment laws been in place to get individuals with histories of severe or violent mental health disorders off the streets and into treatment, this incident could have been prevented.”
Gallahan voiced support for Republican lawmakers in the Assembly and Senate who have united around this issue, citing the need for a more preventive strategy. He emphasized that public safety must take precedence and that proper mental health treatment is key to preventing future tragedies.
“I support my colleagues’ mission to strengthen these laws and put New Yorkers’ safety first,” Gallahan said.
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