Long Island.com: Governor Hochul Announces Major Reduction in Gun Violence snd Signs Legislation Strengthening New York's Gun Laws

Alongside former U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords, New York government officials and other gun safety advocates, Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that gun violence in New York State has declined 47 percent since she took office in 2021. Governor Hochul also signed a package of six bills that will strengthen New York’s gun laws by requiring gun sellers to post tobacco-style safety warnings, taking action against dangerous “pistol convertors” and providing other new tools and resources to help protect more New Yorkers from gun violence.

“Gun violence is an epidemic that is tearing our country apart. Thoughts and prayers won't fix this, but taking strong action will,” Governor Hochul said. “That's why in New York, we're taking bold steps to protect the people of our State. I am proud to sign this bill package that will help enhance safety across New York. While we are taking expedient action to enhance New York State's nation-leading gun laws, we recognize that gun violence is a nationwide problem. I once again urge Congress to follow our lead and take immediate action to pass meaningful gun violence prevention measures. Lives depend on it.”

Former Representative Gabby Giffords said, “New Yorkers deserve to live free from the fear of gun violence. The bills signed into law today by Governor Hochul will make New York safer and undoubtedly save lives. New York continues to lead the nation with some of the strongest gun laws in the country. GIFFORDS is grateful for Governor Hochul and New York legislators’ continued leadership in the fight to prevent gun violence.”

Shooting incidents with injury in New York City and communities served by the 28 police departments participating in the State’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative have declined 47 percent during Governor Hochul’s administration, and the most recent data reported by GIVE agencies show gun violence has declined to pre-pandemic levels.

Governor Hochul also gave an update on New York’s progress in getting illegal guns off the street and keeping firearms away from those who pose a danger to themselves and others. The Governor highlighted that law enforcement agencies statewide have seized over 7,700 illegal guns so far this year, including 569 ghost guns. Additionally, courts across New York have utilized the State’s Red Flag law to issue over 22,000 extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) to date: 92 percent of them after Governor Hochul partnered with the Legislature to strengthen the State’s Red Flag law following the the racially motivated murders at the Tops supermarket in Buffalo on May 14, 2022.

The legislation signed today by Governor Hochul included:

Legislation S6649/A2882 requires firearms dealers and gunsmiths to post warnings at sites where firearms are sold and distribute warnings at the time of sale. These warnings must state that firearms increase the risk of suicide, death during domestic disputes and/or unintentional death to children.

State Senator Michael Gianaris said, “Education and information are key to responsible gun ownership, which will prevent injury and improve public safety. I am proud to have shepherded this proposal through the Senate and to now see it enacted into law.”

Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz said, “I am pleased to see Governor Hochul sign into law my Bill, A.2882. It's a significant step forward in our efforts to protect families and communities across New York. This law ensures that firearms dealers must clearly warn purchasers of the dangers that weapons pose in the home, particularly the increased risk of suicide, domestic violence, and accidental deaths, especially among children. By providing this information and directing individuals in crisis to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, we are equipping people with the resources they need to make informed decisions and keep their loved ones safe.”

Legislation S7365B/A10053A adds the definition of “pistol converter” to Penal Law Section 265.00, which details definitions relating to firearms. Pistol converter is defined as a device that can be attached to the slide of a semi-automatic pistol and interfere with the trigger mechanism, allowing the user to discharge a number of shots rapidly or automatically with one continuous pull of the trigger. The legislation also amends General Business Law to require the gun industry to take “reasonable steps” to prevent the installation and use of pistol converters on their products.

State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, "It's outrageous that for as little as fifty bucks you can buy a device that transforms a regular pistol into a machine gun capable of firing 15 rounds in under two seconds. Gun makers like Glock know these devices, called auto-sears or “Glock switches”, are widely available, but they've chosen to do nothing about it, putting profits before the public's safety. My legislation with Assemblymember Simon (S.7365B) will require Glock and all gun manufacturers to take reasonable steps to ensure their products aren’t compatible with machine gun conversion devices or face the consequences of legal liability. I’m grateful that Governor Hochul is signing our bill today and for the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and my colleagues in the Legislature who once again are standing up to the gun lobby to make New York a safer place.”

Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon said, “New Yorkers are sick of weapons manufacturers ignoring their role in the gun violence epidemic in this nation -- so we are taking action where they won't. I am proud that my first-in-the-nation bill has been signed into law, holding Glock and other Glock-like firearm manufacturers accountable for failing to take action to ensure that their handguns can’t be easily converted into illegal fully-automatic machine guns. For four decades Glock has known that its pistols can be easily and cheaply converted. No other major firearm manufacturer uses this too easily convertible design. It’s time to put people over profit and hold Glock and Glock wannabes to account. Thank you to Governor Hochul for signing my bill, my Senate sponsor Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal, and all the advocates for working to prevent gun violence.”

Legislation S3340/A5873 requires the court to notify the statewide registry of orders of protection and warrants when a temporary and/or final extreme risk protection order (ERPO) is issued, ensuring that ERPOs are tracked in the statewide registry of orders of protection and warrants.

State Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “I am proud and grateful that my bill, S.3340, to modernize the state’s process for filing extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs or “Red Flag Laws”), has been signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul as part of this important package to keep New Yorkers safe from gun violence. By requiring all temporary and permanent ERPOs to be reported to the statewide computerized registry for orders of protection and arrest warrants, we can ensure police know when someone has an outstanding ERPO and better protect victims who face an ongoing risk of violence from someone in their life. I want to thank Assemblymember Chuck Lavine for his partnership on this legislation, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins for her leadership, and Governor Hochul for signing it into law today.”

Assemblymember Charles D. Lavine said, “Thank you Governor Hochul for continuing to protect our communities with strong but sensible gun legislation. By keeping guns away from those who are at a high risk of using them to hurt other people or themselves, the state’s so-called ‘ERPO’ (extreme risk protection order) is a necessary tool at the disposal of judges. This new law, which I proudly sponsored in the Assembly, provides necessary enhancements to modernize the existing ERPO law and will help it do what it was intended to do in the first place, save lives.”

Legislation A7717B/S8589A allows police agencies instead of individual police officers to be listed as the petitioner in an ERPO proceeding.

State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said, “Thank you to Governor Hochul for signing my bipartisan bill into law to protect our officers. It is imperative that we protect the identities of our law enforcement officers as they carry out these vital orders to protect our communities.”

Assemblymember Monica P. Wallace said, “New York’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law is a crucial tool to get firearms away from dangerous individuals. Officers have used these orders to save countless lives, including many domestic violence survivors,” said Assemblymember Wallace. "This legislation streamlines the process by allowing law enforcement officers to apply for these orders while still protecting their personal privacy. I applaud Governor Hochul for signing this legislation to strengthen our red flag laws and protect the public from gun violence.”

Legislation S8479A/A9862A requires credit and debit card issuers to use the firearms and ammunition retailers merchant category code (MCC) created by the International Organization for Standardization in 2022 for businesses whose highest sales value is from the combined sale of firearms, firearms accessories, or ammunition, and it empowers the State Attorney General to bring an enforcement action for any violation that is not cured within 30 days, which can result in fines up to $10,000 for noncompliance. New York becomes the third state, joining California and Colorado, to enact this requirement.

State Senator Zellnor Myrie said, “Banks routinely use data to identify and deter all kinds of illicit activity, but one industry-- the gun industry-- has fought tooth and nail to prevent this kind of risk analysis. By signing this bill into law, New York is establishing a common standard for all industries and ensuring that obviously suspicious patterns of firearm purchases can be detected. I'm grateful to my partner, Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, and to Governor Hochul for continuing our work to put safer streets ahead of the gun industry's profits.”

Assemblymember Michaelle C. Solages said, “This legislation creates a valuable new tool to help stop the proliferation of gun violence in New York. Law enforcement and financial institutions must be able to swiftly identify suspicious purchasing patterns, particularly when it involves firearms or ammunition. Enhancing recognition of these dangerous trends empowers law enforcement to act decisively to prevent future tragedies. I am deeply thankful to Governor Hochul for her leadership on gun safety and to Senator Myrie for his partnership on this critical legislation. This life-saving bill would not have become law without the relentless efforts of gun violence prevention groups, survivors, and victims’ families, whose courage remains a driving force in making our state safer.”

Legislation S9760/A10356A requires a firearms licensing officer, upon the issuance of a license, to provide information about statewide resources related to safe storage of firearms, child access prevention and firearm violence prevention, as well as information on specific county and local laws and regulations related to child access prevention and safe storage of firearms. The legislation also requires the State to develop and implement a public awareness campaign regarding safe storage and child access prevention, requires those materials to be provided in digital format and available online, and mandates they be updated annually.

State Senator Shelley B. Mayer said, “I am so pleased that today Governor Hochul is signing my bill, S. 9760, which will require that firearm licensing officers provide every licensee with information about state and local safe storage laws upon the issuance of a license, including specific methods to prevent child access to firearms, rifles and shotguns. In addition, the bill will require the state to conduct a public awareness campaign about safe storage of firearms, including New York state child access prevention laws, which will be easy to access and readily available to the public. It is vital all New Yorkers are aware of their responsibilities as gun owners to safely store their firearms and prevent child access. Thank you to Assembly Member Michael Benedetto for sponsoring this bill in the Assembly, and Governor Kathy Hochul for her strong support of this effort.”

Assemblymember Michael Benedetto said, “It’s imperative that upon issuance of a firearms license the new gun owner is informed about the proper storage of a firearm. In addition, the Safe Storage bill addresses the need to provide public awareness on this issue.”

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand said, “Gun violence is a uniquely American problem that is destroying families and communities across the country. By signing these pieces of legislation into state law, New York continues to lead the nation in common sense and responsible gun ownership and safety. At the federal level, I wrote the anti-gun trafficking statute included in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, and I am proud to see that this legislation is already making New York streets safer, taking more than 3000 illegal guns off the street and leading to charges against more than 400 defendants. I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress to pass meaningful federal legislation to stop the scourge of gun violence.”

Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said, “The signing of these crucial gun safety bills is a testament to the strength of our collective commitment to protecting New Yorkers. I want to thank Former Representative Gabby Giffords for her unwavering advocacy and for being a constant source of inspiration in this fight. I’m deeply grateful to Governor Hochul for her steadfast partnership in prioritizing the safety of our communities. I also want to acknowledge the tireless efforts of my Deputy Senator Gianaris, and Senators Mayer, Myrie, Scarcella-Spanton, and Hoylman-Sigal, whose leadership has been instrumental in advancing these gun violence prevention efforts. Together, we are taking decisive action to keep our families safe and ensure a safer future for all.”

Speaker Carl Heastie said, “For years, the Assembly Majority has fought hard to establish common-sense legislation that works to make our communities safer. Recent data shows that our effort is working across the State to reduce gun violence, and we believe these bills will get us even closer to preventing violence across our neighborhoods. My colleagues and I believe that no families should ever feel the devastation that gun violence brings and are committed to creating a safer state for all our children.”

Richmond County District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said, “A pernicious public safety threat like no other, gun violence continues to plague far too many of our communities, taking innocent lives and leaving countless families forever changed and heartbroken. As Staten Island's chief law enforcement officer, the men and women of my office work tirelessly to remove illegal firearms from our streets and hold those that use them accountable in the courtroom. However, more must be done to combat this deadly scourge and I commend Governor Hochul for signing half a dozen pro-public safety bills that will do just that. From strengthening New York State's red-flag laws to widely promoting safe storage of firearms and child access prevention resources to ensuring that gun manufacturers take reasonable steps towards limiting dangerous modifications to the firearms they sell, these measures will help make Staten Island and New York State a safer place to live. While much work remains to be done to beat back the specter of gun violence once and for all, I am pleased to see that our state government is taking positive steps to protect our communities.”

Everytown for Gun Safety President John Feinblatt said, “New York has long been a national leader on gun safety, and Governor Hochul and the gun sense majority in Albany are bolstering that legacy with this lifesaving package of bills. For too long, the gun industry has been getting away with murder — but now gun violence survivors in New York will have an important new tool to hold Glock accountable for fueling the spread of machine guns.”

Brady Senior Counsel and Director of State and Federal Policy Tanya Schardt said, “Merchant category codes are applied to nearly every type of business – from restaurants, gas stations and liquor stores — so the question has remained: why are gun and ammunition sellers any different? The use of merchant category codes for gun sellers holds the potential to identify dangerous purchasing patterns, including when someone may be trafficking firearms or accumulating an arsenal to use in a mass shooting, the same way these codes are used to identify human trafficking. Brady applauds the work of Assemblymember Solages, Senator Myrie, and the New York State legislature for its efforts to get this bill passed, and we thank Governor Hochul for signing it into law.”

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