On Wednesday, Gov. Kathleen C. Hochul signed a new slate of gun laws into effect for New York and championed the work her administration has done to cut down gun violence. Alongside former Arizona U.S. Rep. Gabrielle D. Giffords, who survived an assassination attempt in 2012 and has gone on to champion gun control legislation, Hochul announced that new state data shows a 47% drop in gun violence since 2021.
“Gun violence is an epidemic that is tearing our country apart. Thoughts and prayers won’t fix this, but taking strong action will,” Hochul said. “That’s why in New York, we’re taking bold steps to protect the people of our state.”
Among the bills signed into law on Wednesday is a new requirement that gun dealers and gunsmiths post warnings at their sales counters, and distribute paper warnings with every sale, that the presence of a gun in the home increases the risk of suicide, accidental death, or shooting deaths in times of domestic dispute. The bill passed the legislature in July of this year, and supporters of it said it would be a step toward preventing gun deaths or injuries.
“Education and information are key to responsible gun ownership, which will prevent injury and improve public safety,” said state Sen. Michael Gianaris, D-Queens.
But some gun shop owners weren’t convinced. Timothy Bowman, owner of Bowman’s Gun Shop in Gouverneur, told the Times in June that the signs will only communicate that information to people who are getting their guns legally. If they’re buying a gun that requires a license, which includes most guns in New York, they’ve gone through training programs that stress the importance of gun safety.
“Whoever’s buying a gun is jumping through all the hoops already,” he said at the time.
PURCHASE CODES
Under another law signed Wednesday, debit and credit card providers will now be required to code transactions at establishments that make most of their money from gun and ammo sales under the recently established firearm and ammunition retailers merchant category code.
These codes are used to track purchases at specific kinds of stores. Grocery stores, hobby shops, and electronics stores each have specific category codes used to help banks and law enforcement quickly track transactions. For years, gun and ammo retailers have not been identified by a specific code, something gun control advocates argue has helped illegal or potentially dangerous gun purchases go unnoticed.
“This legislation creates a valuable new tool to help stop the proliferation of gun violence in New York,” said Assemblymember Michaelle C. Solages, D-Elmont. “Law enforcement and financial institutions must be able to swiftly identify suspicious purchasing patterns, particularly when it involves firearms or ammunition.”
STEFANIK PUSHBACK
Republicans and gun rights advocates oppose this move broadly. U.S. Rep. Elise M. Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, has introduced a federal bill titled the “Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act,” that would outlaw the tracking of gun purchases with a merchant category code, something she argues “is a violation and infringement on the Constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans.”
Another bill signed Wednesday adds a new definition of “pistol converter” to state criminal and business laws, outlawing and requiring gun shops take reasonable efforts to prevent the sale, installation, or use of such a device.
A pistol converter is now defined in New York as a device that can be attached to a handheld, semi-automatic pistol and modify its operation to allow it to be discharged more rapidly, like a full-auto weapon. Fully automatic weapons are banned in New York and severely restricted by federal law.
“It’s ridiculous that for as little as fifty bucks, you can buy a device that transforms a regular pistol into a machine gun capable of firing 15 rounds in under two seconds,” said state Sen. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, D-Manhattan, who sponsored the bill in that chamber.
RED FLAG LAWS
Two other bills signed Wednesday relate to Extreme Risk Protection Orders, created by the so-called “red-flag laws” passed in 2019. These orders can be initiated by family, community members, or law enforcement when concerning behavior is seen in an individual who may purchase or use guns they already own to hurt themselves or someone else.
Once granted by the court, it empowers law enforcement to temporarily confiscate any weapons owned by the individual subject to the order, and bars them from purchasing weapons or ammo.
Hochul signed a new requirement that the courts notify a state registry of ERPOs when a temporary or final order is handed down, ensuring there’s a central repository of these orders for quick review.
She also signed another bill into law that permits ERPOs sought by law enforcement to be requested by the law enforcement agency itself, rather than individual police officers. Supporters of that bill argue it will keep law enforcement officers safe by not identifying individuals, which could lead to retaliation from the person subject to the ERPO.
The last bill signed into law on Wednesday requires a firearms licensing officer to provide information about safe storage for weapons, childproofing, violence prevention, local laws, and regulations to anyone who is being issued a gun license. It also requires that New York state develop a public awareness campaign specifically for gun storage and childproofing that is available digitally and updated annually.
“New York has long been a national leader on gun safety, and Gov. Hochul and the gun sense majority in Albany are bolstering that legacy with this lifesaving package of bills,” said John Feinblatt, president of the gun control advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety. “For too long, the gun industry has been getting away with murder — but now gun violence survivors in New York will have an important new tool to hold Glock accountable for fueling the spread of machine guns.”