Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s extreme political agenda turns to guns next week as several gun control bills are being posted for the week of Jan. 28. The first two weeks of session have gone by in a flurry as he has worked with the Legislature to quickly jam through several controversial issues. The activity of recent weeks only telegraphs what gun owners can expect. Every gun owner in the state should be contacting their lawmakers immediately!
It was six years ago that Cuomo declared the SAFE Act would make New Yorkers safer. Over half a decade later, there is zero evidence the SAFE Act has done anything more than punish law-abiding gun owners. During Cuomo’s tenure, nearly a million New Yorkers have left the state. This latest push for more gun control laws is nothing more than a resounding indictment of the SAFE Act’s complete failure. What has become abundantly clear is that this is nothing more than political pandering to his extreme anti-gun base.
Several bills are going to move next week which include an accessory ban, mandatory storage, and so-called “red flag” legislation, among others.
The bills posted for next week so far include:
S.1414/ A.763 by Sen. Kevin Parker establishes certain crimes relating to the criminal possession or manufacture of an undetectable firearm, rifle or shotgun. Undetectable guns have been illegal for 30 years. Federal law passed in 1988 makes it unlawful to manufacture, import, sell, ship, deliver, possess, transfer, or receive an undetectable firearm. This legislation essentially bans 3-D printing of firearms. Again, there is zero evidence that criminals are using this expensive and complicated technology to manufacture firearms that are used in the commission of crimes.
S.2374/ A.2690 by Sen. Michael Gianaris extends the waiting period of NICS holds to 30 days. Under current federal law, if a NICS check comes back inconclusive, dealers have three additional days before they can complete the transfer. Someone who happens to have a common name like John Smith, is now forced to wait a full month. This bill will have disastrous and potentially deadly consequences for some, including women who want to purchase a firearm to protect themselves against domestic abusers.
S.2448/ A.2684 by Sen. Luis Sepulveda prohibits the possession, manufacture, transport and disposition of “rapid-fire” modification devices. This bill is poorly written and would ban a variety of legal firearm accessories, including many competition or aftermarket triggers. It is also completely redundant and unnecessary as many of the covered accessories are already illegal under federal and state law. Again, this is nothing more than political pandering and will do nothing to enhance public safety.
S.2450/ A.2686 by Sen. Liz Krueger relates to requirements for the safe storage of rifles, shotguns and firearms. This mandatory storage law would do nothing more than render firearms useless in self-defense situations. Criminals love this bill as it tips the scales in their favor in self-defense situations.
S.2451/ A.2689 by Sen. Brian Kavanaugh establishes extreme risk protection orders as a court-issued order of protection prohibiting a person from purchasing, possessing or attempting to purchase or possess a firearm, rifle or shotgun. NRA opposes this legislation because it does not contain strong due process protections for respondents who could potentially lose the Second Amendment rights. This legislation is perhaps one of the more dangerous in the package as it would become a widely used instrument to take away someone’s constitutional rights with little or no due process.
Like the SAFE Act, this package of bills is going to be rammed through the process with no public hearing and little debate. While these bills are the ones posted so far, even more anti-gun legislation could be added at any time, and NRA members should ask their legislators to OPPOSE all new gun control.
Please contact your state Senator and Assembly member and respectfully request that they oppose these bills. New York has some of the most Draconian gun laws in the country. Ironically, this wave of legislation comes on the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent announcement that they will hear a case from New York City and render a decision on the constitutionality of one of the city’s bizarre and punitive gun laws. New York gun owners simply cannot afford to sit on the sidelines, your urgent help is needed. Please contact your Senator and Assembly member immediately and assist NRA-ILA’s effort in Albany to defeat these Draconian and unnecessary gun bills.
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