Seward Calls For NY-SAFE Act Amendments

ALBANY, 03/02/15 – State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I – Oneonta) and Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi (D-Utica) today announced the introduction of a legislative package to amend and repeal portions of  the NY-SAFE Act.  Two years has passed since the enactment of the governor’s NY-SAFE Act, yet there is no tangible evidence that the law has increased safety.

Senator Seward said, “I voted against the NY-SAFE Act two years ago and have joined law-abiding gun owners in calling for its repeal ever since.  This flawed policy has forced new, costly requirements on gun owners but has done precious little to make us safer from gun violence.  I am co-sponsor of legislation which would repeal the law entirely, and, while the political landscape may make that a difficult fight to win, I am also working to chip away at several of the law’s worst provisions.”

Assemblyman Brindisi said, “Over the past two years, I’ve received numerous letters and phone calls from constituents who are responsible gun owners, and who have some very valid objections to some of the most burdensome aspects of this law.  The four bills I am introducing in the assembly would roll back some requirements of the NY-SAFE Act that are an unnecessary burden on responsible gun owners.”

Senator Seward and Assemblyman Brindisi have introduced four bills that would amend or repeal several provisions of the NY-SAFE Act:

S.2611 - amend the NY-SAFE Act to once again allow for the gifting of long guns to close relatives and to holders of valid New York State pistol licenses;

S.2612 - repeal the provision of the NY-SAFE Act that was struck down in federal court which limits the number of legally permissible cartridges in a ten round magazine to seven;

S.2613 - terminate an overly burdensome state program requiring all ammunition retailer register with the state and conduct background checks on all customers.  The bill also redirects state funding allocated to this program to public school districts to assist in the hiring of school resource officers;

S.2614 - prohibit county judges and other licensing officers from imposing extraneous restrictions that go above and beyond state law when issuing pistol and handgun licenses.

“The reactionary, hastily drafted and passed NY-SAFE Act was meant for headlines and has done nothing to stop criminals from getting guns and using them for illegal purposes.  We need to take action now to correct the many technical issues the law created for responsible gun owners who shoot for sport, collect firearms, and carry guns to protect themselves and their families,” Seward added.

“The NY-SAFE Act was designed to prevent gun violence.  I am convinced that some of its provisions are highly technical, and do not accomplish that goal.  The input I have received from constituents who have been affected by certain aspects of the law has been helpful in developing a package of bills that are designed to repeal some of the extraneous requirements of the NY-SAFE Act,” Brindisi concluded.

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