Rounding up pending gun legislation in New York

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — Some New York legislators focused on gun control measures on Wednesday. Federally, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand sent out updated gun trafficking numbers, while local electeds—led by State Sen. Zellnor Myrie—held a press conference to talk about bills in the state legislature.

You can look at Sen. Gillibrand's full video press conference at the end of this story. In it, she talked about the results of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA), an anti-gun-trafficking provision built around legislation she put together.

A Democrat, Gillibrand pointed out that New York already has some of the strongest laws around safely using firearms. Even so, she noted, the "Iron Corridor" (Interstate 95) supplies the Northeast with illegal guns from southern states with weaker gun control measures in place.

In the two years since implementing the BSCA, police seized over 3,000 trafficked guns nationally, with 1,000 just in the last six months. Owing to harsh state limits on weapons, police seized just 250 in New York over that same two-year period.

Also on the federal level: at the end of August, Republican Congressmember Elise Stefanik introduced legislation to block states from requiring some specific safety features on handguns:

• A device that shows whether the gun is loaded
• A mechanism preventing a gun from firing without a full magazine
• Microstamping technology to mark bullet casings
• Anything that accomplishes or easily converts into the above

Rep. Stefanik also called attention to the Second Amendment rights of people living in states with strict regulations, like New York. She said that this bill, the ‘‘Modern Firearm Safety Act’’ would ban implementing handgun rosters, aligning with a federal court that found California’s handgun roster requirements unconstitutional.

“I am proud to introduce the Modern Firearm Safety Act to put a stop to the unconstitutional gun-grabbing agenda pushed on law-abiding American citizens," she said in a written statement in August. "My legislation would ban Albany Democrats from imposing illegal handgun roster requirements meant to deter gun ownership. I will always stand up for our Second Amendment rights and provide a critical check to any entity attempting to encroach on their liberties."

And on Wednesday, several members of the state legislature gathered in New York City after a shooting in Brooklyn for a press conference to unveil more statewide gun safety measures. Assemblymembers Phara Souffrant Forrest and Monique Chandler-Waterman, along with State Sens. Jabari Brisport and Andrew Gounardes—all Democrats—joined Sen. Myrie to talk about bills S9904 and S9905/A10720.

The latter of those bills would codify a new specific legal definition for "mass shooting": a firearm, rifle, or shotgun shooting that injures or kills at least four people. Previously, a mass shooting required at least four deaths; gunshots injuring four or more survivors did not rise to the level. Passing that legislation would make it easier to access emergency funding.

"These bills will strengthen New York's commitment to addressing the scourge of gun violence by creating a uniform standard for responding to incidents like [the West Indian Day Parade shooting on September 2], and ensuring that the State has the infrastructure needed to prevent them," Myrie said on Wednesday.

The other bill, S9905, creates an official State Office of Gun Violence Prevention (OGVP) and a Gun Violence Advisory Council, and establishes their mandates and responsibilities. OGVP would:

• Coordinate gun violence-related grants and programs
• Review state laws, regulations, and data to better prevent gun violence
• Strengthen data collection to better track gun-related suicides, crimes, and accidents
• Work with hospitals and train healthcare workers to improve responses
• Create public reports on gun violence
• Run public awareness campaigns

Meanwhile, the Gun Violence Advisory Council would work to connect those communities most affected by gun violence with resources and information that could help them recover. They'd focus on education and research, and collaborate with organizations to expand programs for kids and young adults. The council would include at least 12 members:

• A survivor of gun violence
• A community violence intervention provider
• A local public health official
• A trauma care provider
• A mental health clinician
• A district attorney
• A teacher
• A student group representative
• A veteran
• Any state legislative representatives or local government representatives who wish to participate

In terms of other state efforts, S6649/A2882 already passed in the Assembly and the State Senate during the last legislative session, though it still awaits Gov. Kathy Hochul's signature. Introduced by State Sen. Michael Gianaris, it makes gun retailers in New York post and provide prominent safety warnings.

Whenever someone buys a gun, prominently displayed gun dealer signage would have to say:

“Warning: Access to a weapon or firearm in the home significantly increases the risk of suicide, death during domestic disputes, and/or unintentional deaths to children, household members, and others. If you or a loved one is experiencing distress or depression, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988.”

The gun dealer would have to supply the same notice in writing, and gun licensing officers must supply the same warning whenever someone gets or updates a gun license. Local police could issue appearance tickets for violations, and penalties would be worth up to 15 days in jail or a $1,000 daily fine under the legislation from Sen. Gianiaris.

For her part, Hochul wrote an op-ed in USA Today about banning AR-15s. It read in part:

Guns like the AR-15 were outlawed nationwide until the Federal Assault Weapons Ban was allowed to expire 20 years ago by the Bush administration and Congressional Republicans. The AR-15 is now the common thread linking Sandy Hook Elementary in 2012 and a political rally in a Pennsylvania field in 2024.

It’s the same type of weapon an 18-year-old white supremacist used to murder 10 people in a Tops supermarket in my hometown of Buffalo because of the color of their skin. And just days ago, an AR-15 enabled a 14-year-old—a child—to kill four of his classmates and teachers at Apalachee High School in Georgia.

Then-first-graders who survived the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School will vote in their first presidential election this year.

Take a look at Gillibrand's video update below: