Silver Introduces New Gun Trafficking Legislation

Calls for Governor, Senate to 'Take Strongest Action to Defend
New Yorkers' During Next Week's Special Session

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver today announced that the Assembly was introducing new legislation (A.9083) to combat illegal gun trafficking that would provide the same penalties as legislation proposed by the governor and the additional initiatives contained in Assembly bill 2345, sponsored by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, which previously passed the Assembly.

"Next week's special legislative session provides an ideal opportunity to move forward with a comprehensive approach to combating gun violence," Silver said. "Clearly the fact that 29 out of the 35 members of the Senate Majority Conference receive an A rating from the NRA cannot be allowed to dictate public policy in New York State. The Senate and governor continue to protect loopholes that allow gun traffickers to evade detection and contribute to the illegal gun market in this state where criminals can obtain devastating weapons that threaten our safety. Being in the pocket of the NRA, which stridently opposes common-sense measures to end gun trafficking in our state and nationally, is the only explanation for their failure to enact Assembly measures this year to crack down on the illegal trade in guns."

Silver said the bill he is introducing reflected the best proposals put forward by all of the parties on the gun-trafficking issue and called for the measure to be the first order of business in the upcoming special legislative session being called today by Governor George Pataki.

"Our new legislation would both crack down on illegal gun traffickers and stop guns from falling into the hands of criminals to begin with," said Silver. "In it we have agreed to adopt all of the penalty provisions advanced by the governor and the Senate on the gun-trafficking issue. This legislation eliminates all differences on the penalty issue between the governor and the bill passed earlier this year in the Assembly.

"However, the governor's proposal does not do enough to provide the full protection New Yorkers deserve. Its penalties, in the absence of any other measures, would be an inadequate solution to the problem of illegal gun trafficking in New York. The governor and the Senate must agree to do more," Silver said.

Silver cited a statement released today by Jim Brady, former press secretary to President Ronald Regan and chair of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, that called on the Senate and governor to adopt the approach contained in the new legislation.

Speaking of legislation previously passed by the Assembly on the gun-trafficking issue, which are carried over into this newly introduced legislation, Brady said: "The governor and the state Senate should adopt [Speaker Silver's] approach. New York should toughen the penalties but also take real steps to dry up the sources of crime guns."

Silver also called on the Senate and governor to pass other bills to combat gun violence previously passed by the Assembly, including legislation to outlaw lethal, armor-piercing "cop-killer" bullets and ban exploding bullets. The Assembly passed such a bill, A.2837, in May of this year.

Silver remains committed to continuing to work with the governor and the Senate to attain agreement on legislation that cracks down on gun violence in the strongest, most comprehensive way possible.

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Click here to view a copy of the Brady Statement in Support of Assembly Majority Legislation to Crack Down on Gun Violence