Community Update: Extraordinary Session and Mobile Office Hours
July 18, 2022
Dear Friends,
These past several weeks have been eventful in New York State as a result of two significant Supreme Court cases. On June 30, the Senate and Assembly returned to Albany for an Extraordinary Session called by Governor Kathy Hochul to address the Supreme Court decisions in NYS Rifle & Pistol Assn., Inc. v. Bruen and Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. I regard both as terribly disappointing decisions, with very serious impact for all Americans, including New Yorkers. I remain committed to addressing both the impact of gun violence on our state, and the need to protect the right to abortion.
The Bruen decision struck down New York’s 100+ years old concealed carry law, which restricted carrying a gun outside of a residence only to those with “proper cause.” In the wake of the terrible murders in Buffalo and Uvalde, Texas, I believe we must continue to do everything in our power to limit access to the most dangerous guns. On July 1, we passed a bill, now signed by the Governor, which addressed the Bruen decision. The new law 1) enhances licensing requirements for concealed carry permit applicants; 2) enumerates a list of sensitive locations where even people with licenses cannot carry a firearm, including public areas such as trains, buses and subways; 3) protects private property rights by requiring owners to “opt in” to allowing weapons on their property; 4) applies safe storage requirements if a minor under the age of 18 lives in the home; and 5) makes technical changes to the Body Armor Law. It also establishes New York as a “point of contact” state, which requires gun dealers to contact the State Police to conduct the background check that must be done before an individual can purchase a gun. We are confident these provisions are in accordance with the Supreme Court’s ruling and provide New Yorkers the greatest protection possible given the circumstances. We anticipate that the law will be challenged, but believe it will withstand constitutional scrutiny.
The Legislature passed a series of strong measures after the leaked opinion in the Dobbs case. However, once the decision was issued striking down Roe v. Wade, it was clear we had to do even more to protect abortion and reproductive rights in New York State. To ensure these rights are protected not only in New York law, but in the New York State Constitution, we passed the Equal Rights Amendment during the Extraordinary Session. I was proud to co-sponsor the Amendment, which would modify the New York State Constitution to expressly prohibit discrimination based on “race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, creed, religion or sex, including sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy outcomes, and reproductive healthcare and autonomy.” (The State Constitution already bans discrimination based on religion.) This new amendment will need to be adopted again in the next legislative session before it is considered by voters.
Notwithstanding this intense legislative activity, I continue to be active here at home throughout the district and am here to serve you. If there is anything my office can assist you with, please email me at smayer@nysenate.gov or call (914) 934-5250.
Warm regards,
Shelley B. Mayer
State Senator
37th District
