Gov. Kathy Hochul said there has been significant progress in New York’s fight against gun violence, but there is still a need for further change.

She said the state had the lowest firearm homicide rate among the country's 10 largest states in 2021.

New York City had the third-lowest number of murders among the country's 20 largest cities in 2022.

Hochul also said 20 police departments taking part in the state's Gun Involved Violence Elimination Initiative reported 50 shootings with injuries this January, which is the fewest since the pandemic started.

New York City reported 73 shootings last month, which is the fewest since May 2020.

"But most importantly to me right now is making sure we get mental health dollars into our schools so we can eradicate what the kids are going through, help them now before we end up having to invest in their entire lifetime,” Hochul said.

She added that the numbers are still too high and that the state has to keep treating gun violence as a public health crisis, "...identifying the source...interrupting its transmission, and treating it."