New York Gov. Kathy Hochul this week signed a sweeping legislative package designed to āstrengthen the stateās gun laws.ā
The legislation signed would do all of the following, and more:
- Ban the sale of body armor to civilians
- Require one to obtain a license to purchase a semiautomatic rifle (one must be 21 to obtain the license)
- Expand the stateās confiscatory red flag law
- Criminalize the sale of firearms that do not have microstamping technology
- Remove the grandfather clause for magazines of a certain capacity purchased prior to the passage of the SAFE Act
- Force gun shops to adhere to uniform security and reporting standards
- Establish a new task force on āSocial Media and Violent Extremism.āĀ
āGun violence is an epidemic that is tearing our country apart. Thoughts and prayers wonāt fix this, but taking strong action will,ā Gov. Hochul said at a Monday press conference. Ā
āWhile we are taking expedient action to enhance New York Stateās nation-leading gun laws, we recognize that gun violence is a nationwide problem,ā she continued. āI once again urge Congress to follow our lead and take immediate action to pass meaningful gun violence prevention measures. Lives depend on it.ā Ā
Gun violence is a disease that is plaguing our country.
In New York, we act boldly and we lead.
Thank you to @AndreaSCousins, @CarlHeastie, and all the advocates for their work to quickly pass this transformative package of gun legislation that will protect all New Yorkers. pic.twitter.com/rr6AIjvOqJ
ā Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) June 7, 2022
The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the firearms industry trade association, was quick to slam the governor for chilling the 2A rights of law-abiding citizens.
āNSSF is disappointed that New Yorkās legislature rammed through this package of gun control bills and Governor Hochul chose to sign them into law,ā said Mark Oliva, NSSFās Managing Director of Public Affairs, in an email to GunsAmerica.
Oliva pointed out that the age ban wonāt pass Constitutional muster.
āAdults at the age of 18 are fully-vested in their rights and this legislation is blatantly unconstitutional,ā observed Oliva. āThe U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit recently ruled that Californiaās similar age-based gun ban violated the Constitution.ā
Another concern is the microstamping mandate, which is nothing more than a way to put a freeze on the sale of certain firearms, argues Oliva.
āThe sole-source patent holder on this technology has admitted that it is unreliable and can be easily defeated,ā noted Oliva. āCalifornia serves as another example of how microstamping technology isnāt workable. Since that state has required it, not a single semiautomatic handgun has been added to Californiaās roster of handguns approved for sale in the state. It is nothing short of a slow-rolling gun ban.ā
While itās unclear what effect, if any, these laws will have when it comes to stopping the next determined killer, what is clear is that the power of the surveillance state has been expanded and the right of the people to keep and bear arms, for traditionally lawful purposes like self-defense from the very killers these new laws are supposed to prevent, has been infringed.
In time, New Yorkers will have to look back and ask themselves, was it worth it?
is the News Editor of GunsAmerica.