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NY State Senate Passes "Most Comprehensive" Gun Control Bill In U.S.
By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 15, 2013
Modified Jan 15, 2013
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By
Jen Chung
Published Jan 15, 2013
Modified Jan 15, 2013
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Last night, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the NY State Legislature would pass a bill putting further restrictions on assault weapons and ammunition. Cuomo said, "I believe it's the most comprehensive package in the nation," and the State Senate passed the measure, 43-18. The Assembly will vote today.
The Senate is controlled by a coalition of independent Democrats and Republicans (much to the dismay of Democrats) but there was strong support for the bill. Senators made the point that NY's legislation would be an example for the rest of the country; State Senator Michael Gianaris (D-Queens) remarked, "Make no mistake, we are saving lives by passing this bill tonight."
However, Republican Senator Greg Ball of Putnam County slammed the legislation as being a way for Cuomo to set his sights higher: "We haven’t saved any lives tonight, except for one: the political life of a governor who wants to be president. I voted no, and I only wish I could have done it twice."
As for the bill, here's a rundown from the NY Post:
The legislation, called the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act, or NYSAFE, now defines an assault weapon as any having detachable magazines and one military-style feature, instead of two. It also includes a ban on all magazines that hold more than seven rounds, and bans direct Internet ammunition sales.
The bill calls for universal background checks for all gun sales, as well as real-time background checks of ammunition purchases in order to alert State Police to high-volume buyers. Individuals who already own assault weapons will be required to register them within a year and be re-certified every five years. There is also a “Webster provision,” which calls for a life-without-parole sentence for killers of first responders. The measure was inspired by the Christmas Eve shooting in upstate Webster that killed two firefighters responding to a blaze.
If the bill passes, mental-health professionals would be required to report potentially dangerous patients — who could then have their guns yanked — and mentally ill inmates would have to undergo review before being released from prison. Mandatory treatment for potentially dangerous mentally ill individuals would be broadened to a year, up from the current six months.
Also under the bill, the state would develop an electronic gun- permit database to identify individuals disqualified from owning guns. Private gun transfers would require background checks, except for immediate family.
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said
, "The message out there is so clear after Newtown. To basically eradicate assault weapons from our streets in New York as quickly as possible is something the people of this state want."
After the Senate's vote, Cuomo said, "Tonight, the Senators that voted for the NY SAFE Act of 2013 made a bold statement, coming together in a bipartisan, collaborative manner to meet the challenges that face our state and our nation, as we have seen far too many senseless acts of gun violence. I commend Senator Skelos, Senator Klein, and Senator Stewart-Cousins for their hard work on this important legislation."
However, Republican Senator Kathleen Marchione (Saratoga) said, "I truly believe that the Second Amendment constitutional freedoms of every New Yorker tonight has been weakened... Law-abiding citizens who own guns are not our problem. Law-abiding citizens understand and know how to take care of their guns, not to be a danger to others." Cuomo's take? "This is a proposal that seeks to limit gun violence. It has nothing to do with ... legal gun owners who use their guns appropriately. Much of this is common sense. Unfortunately, common sense has eluded us for many years."
Tagged
Albany
assault weapon
election 2016
governor cuomo
gun control bill
gun violence
newtown shooting
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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