Gun control: What new restrictions are in the gun safety bill passed in New York?
Despite the striking down of protections from the Supreme Court, a new bill has been signed in New York to restrict the concealed carry of firearms.
New York state has legislated for further gun restrictions after the Supreme Court struck down previously established limits last week. Lawmakers drafted the final bill text on Thursday and brought the bill for a vote on Friday. Afterwards, the state Senate passed the bill 43-20 Friday, and the state Assembly passed the legislation Friday evening 91-51. It was quickly signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul.
New York state wanted to pass more gun control laws after the Supreme Court struck down laws requiring a resident to obtain a license to carry a concealed pistol or revolver in public.
“Because of the stroke of a pen, [the Supreme Court] removed longstanding limitations that we were able to use in the state of New York to make smart decisions on who should have the right to carry a weapon,” Hochul said. “We believe gun laws like those have made New York safer.”
The Supreme Court has come under intense scrutiny for some of its most recent rulings. At the end of June, it controversially overturned federal protections for the right to have an abortion.
What was in the details of the bill?
The bill has new, carefully defined rules for where concealed-carry firearms can be taken. There is a list of “sensitive” locations, including places like “any place owned or under the control of federal, state or local government” as well as schools and places of worship. Firearms must be stored in a safe place if the house has anyone living in it under the age of 18.
It is expected that there will be legal challenges ahead for the bill, but the New York state government are confident they can beat any challenge.
“We wanted to make sure that our permitting process would be able to stand up to scrutiny, and the technical aspects took a long time. But we are confident that we are providing New York, again, an opportunity not only to be able to have their concealed carry, but also to make New Yorkers safe,” New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said.