Assemblyman Phil Ramos (D-Brentwood) announced that he helped pass a legislative package to combat gun violence in New York. The bills include measures to keeps guns out of the wrong hands, authorize “extreme risk protection orders” and prohibit bump stocks.

“For far too long, our communities have lived in fear of gun violence,” said Ramos. “On Long Island, we’ve seen firsthand how gangs, fueled by brutality and wielding firearms, have left many of our families grieving. We need to do more to keep guns off our streets, and we need to do it now.”

One bill in the legislative package establishes a 10-day waiting period – instead of the current three-day period – that gun purchasers must wait prior to receiving a firearm if their background check is incomplete (A.2406). Currently, the FBI investigates individuals if the standard National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) check conducted by a gun dealer responds with a “delayed” message, rather than “proceed” or “denied.” However, gun dealers are able to proceed with the sale just three business days after a “delayed” message is given, even if the FBI hasn’t completed its background check.

To help keep guns out of the hands of people convicted of domestic violence, the package also includes measures to prohibit domestic abusers from purchasing or possessing firearms (A.5025).

While attaching devices that accelerate a firearm’s firing rate, known as bump stocks, is currently illegal, no regulation exists preventing the sale or possession of these or similar devices that are not attached to a firearm. Ramos helped pass a bill prohibiting the possession, manufacture, transport, shipment and sale of these devices (A.9958).

During the tragic Las Vegas shooting that left more than 500 people injured and 58 dead, a single gunman used bump stocks on two separate weapons, allowing him to fire more than 1,100 rounds in approximately 10 minutes.1

Further, the legislative package includes a bill to allow courts to issue an “extreme risk protection order” if a family member or law enforcement officer petitions the court because they believe an individual is a serious danger (A.8976-B). Another bill requires out-of-state residents to provide access to their mental health records when applying for a firearm in New York (A.9978).

The Assembly legislative package comes after the Parkland school shooting that killed 17 and the scourge of mass shootings and tragedies that has plagued our nation.2 As a former police detective, Ramos has continuously advocated for smarter gun regulations and measures to prevent gang violence and keep Long Island families safe. He pushed for a series of bills to create special gang courts (A.5136); increase penalties for gang-related offenses (A.5141); allocate resources for gang prevention programs (A.5252); and direct state police to develop a coordinated law enforcement effort to respond to gang violence (A.5938).

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