New York Passes The Toughest Gun Control Law In The Country
The shootings in Sandy Hook, Connecticut and Webster, New York were terrible tragedies, evoking a national outpouring of sadness, grief, and the demand to end senseless gun violence.
Last week, the Legislature passed the NY SAFE Act, a first-in-the-nation law that I co-sponsored, giving New York the strongest gun controls in America.
The NY SAFE Act strengthens New York State’s existing assault weapons ban, increases criminal penalties for the illegal use of guns, outlaws all high-capacity ammunition magazines and limits the capacity of clips sold in New York State to no more than 7 rounds. For the first time, individuals are now required to undergo a state background check before being allowed to purchase ammunition to ensure criminals with illegal guns no longer have easy access to bullets.
The NY SAFE Act establishes a statewide database for handgun licenses, enabling the State Police to crosscheck the National Instant Criminal Background Check System to determine if any current licensees have been legally disqualified from possessing firearms under federal law.
The new law also requires mental-health professionals to report to law enforcement when they believe a person receiving mental-health services is a danger to themselves or others. Those who possess a firearm license will have their license revoked or suspended and be required to surrender their firearms.
While there is more still that we must do on a national level, New York now has the strongest gun laws in the country. The measures in the NY SAFE Act will go a long way to securing all New Yorkers and making us a far safer state.