Republicans in the New York state Assembly on Wednesday called for a meeting of the state's domestic terrorism task force for the first time following the mass shooting in Buffalo that left 10 people dead. 

The task force was first created in the state budget in 2020 and is composed of the commissioner of the Division of Criminal Justice Services, the State Police superintendent and appointees of the governor and the Legislature. 

The shooting in Buffalo has been called an act of terrorism, and the alleged shooter had written a racist screed before the attack. 

“The Domestic Terrorism Task Force was established in 2020, and has yet to have its first meeting. How is that explained,” said Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay. “The mission of this task force was to study, assess and help prevent senseless acts of violence from taking place. Last month, a gunman shot 10 people in a New York City subway. Last weekend, we saw the horror that took place in Buffalo. The intent of this task force was to specifically address the violent acts we’re seeing play out in front of us. It’s a disservice and disappointing that it can’t find the time to convene.”

The task force is required to meet at least four times a year and had been required to issue a preliminary report last December with findings, conclusions and recommendations, but is yet to do so.

“The governor has promised a series of actions in response to the events in Buffalo," Barclay said. "Those measures should be carefully considered. But I’d like to know where the action was up until this point? While crime rises, while more mass shootings take place, the state task force specifically designed to prevent this violence has been sitting dormant, rendered useless in Albany dysfunction. That needs to change immediately."