State Assembly Majority Leader Joseph D. Morelle, D-Irondequoit, said today that the Assembly’s passage of a groundbreaking gun violence bill places New York “at the vanguard of the most critical public safety issue confronting us at this time.”
The bill, which among its provisions expands the state’s ban on assault weapons, increases penalties for the murder of emergency first responders and standardizes New York’s handgun permitting process, is the first major legislation adopted by any state in the aftermath of shooting tragedies in Webster and in Newtown, Conn.
The bill also creates a statewide database to prevent mentally ill or unstable individuals from possessing firearms and closes loopholes that allow private gun sales to evade federal background check requirements.
The state Senate passed the bill Monday night. When it is signed, as expected, by Governor Cuomo, New York’s gun laws will be the toughest in the US.
“After the murder of two brave firefighters in Webster and 20 innocent children in Newtown, New Yorkers demanded action on gun safety,” Morelle said. “Today we responded with what I strongly believe is commonsense legislation that reduces the likelihood of such tragedies by restricting the availability of weapons most able to inflict that kind of carnage. I also believe we can and will accomplish this while respecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners.
“Among my earliest efforts as a member of the Assembly was a call to curb the availability of high-capacity assault rifles, and it is especially gratifying for me to be a part of this renewed fight to reduce gun violence in our state.”
“I applaud Speaker Silver, Governor Cuomo and the leadership of the state Senate for putting New York at the vanguard of the most critical public safety issue confronting us at this time.”