Senator Luis Sepúlveda Introduces Bill to Require Reporting and Review of Bulk Gun and Ammunition Purchases. S9555

I have a duty to continue to fight gun violence. In New York State we have accomplished much and have set a national example. We still have a long way to go to ensure that our people live in peace. That is why I have introduced bill S9555 to direct the NY State Police to establish the necessary regulations so that they can further review bulk purchases of guns and ammunition.

In this way any unusual purchases of firearms or ammunition in unusual quantities could be investigated by the police regardless of the method of payment used by the person, whether credit, debit, electronic or cash. 

There have been a significant number of cases where individuals have used credit cards to purchase guns in large quantities. It is common sense that these purchases should be reported to the police not only by the credit card companies but also by the sellers themselves. In 2018 a New York Times investigation uncovered eight cases when mass shooters used credit cards to purchase large amounts of weapons and ammunition before they committed their heinous crimes. The individual who opened fire inside the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida purchased two firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition with six separate credit cards spending $26,000 in two weeks. James Holmes used credit to help buy more than $11,000 in guns, grenades, a gas mask and other military gear before he opened fire on a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado killing twelve.

This type of reporting is not only necessary, it is common sense and provides law enforcement with more tools to combat gun violence by allowing the State Police to flag these purchases for further review regardless of the payment system.