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yesterday

Carolyn McCarthy, Gun Control Crusader Turned Lawmaker, Dies at 81

Her death prompted tributes highlighting her decades-long fight against gun violence rooted in personal loss.

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Former Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., speaks at a news conference with members of the New Democratic Coalition in the Capitol Visitor Center in 2012.
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In this Jan. 24, 2013 file photo, Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, D-N.Y., speaks during a news conference with a coalition of members of Congress, mayors, law enforcement officers, gun safety organizations and other groups on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

Overview

  • McCarthy launched her political career after the 1993 Long Island Rail Road massacre claimed her husband’s life and critically wounded her son.
  • She represented New York’s 4th District for nine terms from 1997 to 2015, championing universal background checks and limits on high-capacity ammunition magazines.
  • After announcing a lung cancer diagnosis in 2013, she retired in 2015 but continued to speak out on gun safety measures nationwide.
  • In January 2025, President Joe Biden awarded her the Presidential Citizens Medal in recognition of her enduring legislative and advocacy efforts.
  • Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered New York flags at half-staff and lawmakers including Rep. Tom Suozzi hailed her as a fierce champion for gun violence prevention.