In the wake of recent gun violence across the country, Bronx Councilman Ritchie Torres is announcing new funding for gun and gang violence prevention programs.

Torres, saying that the solution to gun violence is "fewer guns and fewer gangs," says the City Council has invested $36.2 million in gun violence prevention and reduction.

According to Torres, New York City has seen 551 shooting incidents in the first half of 2019, compared with 413 of the same in the first half of 2018.

On a national level, Torres says more must be done. He says there should be national background checks, a national database to track gun sales, and a ban on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and instruments of mass murder.