SENATE PASSES LEGISLATION TO COMBAT GUN CRIMES

    The New York State Senate today passed two bills to combat gun crimes and enhance penalties for gun crimes that endanger children.

       The bills, approved by the Senate, would strengthen the penalty for displaying a gun in the commission of a crime and lengthen the sentence for criminal sale or possession of a weapon at a residence of a child or in the presence of a child.

    “Criminals who use guns to commit crimes should be punished very severely, particularly if they illegally sell or possess a gun in the presence of children,” Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos said. “These bills recognize the need for tougher charges and stronger penalties for gun crimes.”

    Specifically, the bills would:

    > Amend the definition of criminal use of a firearm in the first degree to include displaying a firearm in the commission of any and all felonies, rather than just certain felonies.  The bill would upgrade all instances of criminal use of a firearm to a class B violent felony which carries a sentence of up to 25 years in prison (S.1407B).

    > Increase the sentence by an additional two and one-half years for the offenses of criminal possession of a weapon and criminal sale of a firearm when the offenses happen at the residence of a child under 14; and by an additional five years if a child under 14 is home when the crime takes place (S.2169A).