Gun violence emergencies: Positive impact, or abuse of executive power?

In July 2021, former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo implemented what media described as the first of its kind gun violence state of emergency.

Since then, more communities are saying gun violence is a reason to expand government powers that have traditionally been reserved for things like natural disasters.

Gov. Kathy Hochul, who succeeded Cuomo in office, last month extended New York's state of emergency. Dating back more than a year, similar declarations have been put in place in Rochester, New York; Portland, Oregon; and Flint, Michigan.