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Assembly debates gun control
New York toughens gun law
Measure is most restrictive in nation
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs New York's Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act into law during a ceremony in the Red Room at the Capitol on Tuesday. Also pictured, from left, are Senate co-leader Jeffrey Klein, D-Bronx, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, and Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers. Behind Cuomo is Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy.
ALBANY — Jumping out ahead of Washington, New York enacted the nation’s toughest gun restrictions Tuesday and the first since the Connecticut school shooting, including an expanded assault-weapon ban and mandatory background checks for buying ammunition.
Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the measure into law less than an hour after it won final passage in the Legislature, with supporters hailing it as a model for the nation and gun-rights activists condemning it as a knee-jerk piece of legislation that won’t make anyone safer and is too extreme to win support in the rest of the country.
Owners of an estimated 1 million previously legal semiautomatic rifles, like the Bushmaster model used to kill 20 children and six seven adults in Newtown, Conn., a month ago, will be able to keep their weapons, but will have a year to register them with police.
“When there’s a pileup of events, when the federal government does not do it, the state of New York has to lead the way,” said state Assemblyman Joseph Lentol, a Brooklyn Democrat and co-sponsor.
In addition to outlawing a broader array of military-style weapons, the measure restricts ammunition magazines to seven bullets, down from the current 10, creates a more comprehensive database of people barred from owning guns, and makes New York the first state to require background checks to buy bullets. The system will also help flag customers who buy large amounts of ammo.
In another provision, therapists, doctors and other mental health professionals will be required to tell state authorities if a patient threatens to use a gun illegally. The patient’s weapon could then be taken away.
Richard Aborn, president of the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City, said Cuomo clearly understood gun violence is a complex issue requiring solutions more comprehensive than simply banning a particular weapon.
“I think that’s an important message for the nation,” he said.
In a statement, the National Rifle Association said: “These gun control schemes have failed in the past and will have no impact on public safety and crime.”
“While lawmakers could have taken a step toward strengthening mental health reporting and focusing on criminals, they opted for trampling the rights of law-abiding gun owners in New York, and they did it under a veil of secrecy in the dark of night,” the NRA said.
President Barack Obama will unveil his own proposals in response to the Newtown tragedy on Wednesday. He favors sweeping gun legislation, including a ban on assault weapons. But because of powerful opposition from the gun lobby, he is said to be weighing 19 steps he could take through executive action alone.
Those could include ordering stricter action against people who lie on gun-sale background checks, seeking to ensure more complete records in the federal database, and striking limits on federal research into gun use.
New York’s law passed the state Senate, which is run by a Republican-dominated coalition, 43-18 Monday night. The Democrat-controlled Assembly approved it 104-43 Tuesday afternoon.
Republicans complained the measure was rammed through the Legislature and infringes on the Second Amendment right to bear arms.
“A lot of people say, ‘Why do you need these guns?’” said Assemblyman James Tedisco, a Schenectady Republican. “It’s part of the freedoms and liberties we have. ... It’s for our public safety. It’s to protect us from our own government.”
He said the bill was dangerous because it would give people a “false sense of well-being.”
“You are using innocent children killed by a madman for your own political agenda,” he said. “You are actually making people less safe.”
Tom King, president of the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, questioned whether other states or the federal government would follow New York’s lead and said he expects the law to be challenged in court.
Previously, New York state law on assault weapons banned semiautomatics that have detachable magazines and at least two military-type features, such as a pistol grip, folding stock, muzzle flash suppressor or bayonet mount. The new law will reduce that to just one feature.
It also requires background checks for even private gun sales, except those among immediate family.
In addition, it says handgun owners must renew their licenses every five years, and it increases prison sentences for using guns in various crimes or taking them on school grounds.
In a concession to the gun industry, local authorities will be allowed to withhold the identities of registered gun owners — an issue that erupted recently when a suburban New York City newspaper published the names and addresses of gun owners in its readership area.
“By making this a priority, the governor has not only saved lives but will hopefully inspire leaders in Washington also to take swift action,” said Dan Gross, president of the national Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
The New York legislation sparked spirited discussion among customers at the Buffalo Gun Center in the suburb of Cheektowaga, where business was so brisk that people had to wait in line in freezing temperatures just to get in the door.
“It’s ridiculous. It’s absolutely — how to put it nicely — it’s Prince Andrew Cuomo’s bid for the White House,” said Jim Hanley of Angola, who was waiting to buy another handgun. “I want to do it before the right is taken away. Andrew Cuomo and Barack Hussein Obama are two best gun salesmen in the history of the world.”
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3:49 p.m.
Crazy
7:35 p.m.
we don't need no stinkin' guns! let's just throw the ammo at the bad guys; that'll scare the bejeezus out of 'em!
8:27 p.m.
My question is, do you feel safer in NYS knowing that Andy Cuomo has your back?
11:02 p.m.
OK, I'll bite.
Yeah, I feel safer. I feel safer knowing there's one politician who recognizes that a minority of the population who doesn't seem to understand any other way to exist than to threaten or be scared...of something... has co-opted the second amendment and bought and threatened their way with other politicians to where a very deadly commodity is now too easily available.
Governor Cuomo's, and President Obama's soon-to-be announced actions have been a necessary response to the absolute failure of this demographic to offer one. single. positive step forward or any acknowledgement of what the majority of the human race understands, guns need to be forcefully regulated.
2:20 a.m.
OK, lets regulate weapons, but first lets limit and corral the issue of hate speech especially by the Left as seen in the mainstream media and in political houses of legislation in the US. So in an effort to be fair and balanced (a term Obama likes to use) we need to abolish the first amendment as it pertains to the freedom of the press and free speech, since the Left is so considerate of those who protest the Left's hypocrisy which is then strong armed by willing accomplices in the reporting of the news. Using the Espionage Act of 1917 and the Sedition and Disloyalty Act of 1918, BTW were both signed into law by President Woody Wilson who was the first progressive Leftist politician in the US who used these two laws to thwart the opposition to our involvement in WW 1. So as I said in order to be fair and balanced (Obama's favorite term) we need to go back to the 1980's and lock up fair minded journalists like Sam Donaldson who called President Ronald Reagan, "an amiable dunce," especially when ole Sam criticized Reagan's foreign policy especially when it came to dealing with the USSR in the cold war. Next lets then concentrate on the wizards of smart like Democratic Senators Dick Durbin of Illinois, Harry Reid of Nevada, Chucky Schumer of NYS, Ted (Baby you can drive my car) Kennedy and not to mention Democratic House of Representatives members Nancy (Bird brain) Pelosi of California and Barney (I don't run a male prostitution ring out of my basement) Frank who both compared the men and women of the military serving in Iraq and Afghanistan along with President George W. Bush were guilty of war crimes and should be prosecuted as such by calling them murderers and rapists. Oh and lets not fail to mention prosecuting Democratic New Hampshire State Legislator Cynthia Chase for violation of the civil rights against all Conservative Party members in the State of New Hampshire by her calling for the imprisonment of all of these Conservatives. The punishment for the crimes of the Espionage Act and the Sedition and Disloyalty Act is life imprisonment so before we pass any new faulty feel good gun legislation lets prosecute these aforementioned politicians before you try and take away our second amendment rights. So along with any further nonsensical drivel that spews out of your pie hole if its possible Mr. ChuckD, please think before you speak because you can avoid sticking your foot in your mouth which is something you do all to well. Does this sound plausible...What do you think Mr. ChuckD.
6:02 a.m.
Once again, the online discussion has degenerated into name-calling. We will delete those posts. We will delete conspiracy theory posts.
This is an issue that deserves informed, rational debate.
Judy Patrick
6:33 a.m.
Judy, I would say let these irrational people post their tirades, It just clarifies for rational people like Governor Cuomo and those legislators of both parties why we needed stronger firearms laws in NY.
7:43 a.m.
are you kidding me--none of you people have it right,give the father, mother,grandfather,grandmother of their dangerous children and grandchidreen who committ a crime with a weapon taken from those unlocked gun cabinents in their home the death penalty and make sure their is no delay in delivering the needle, doing so the stupid gun owners would make sure that their weapons are not accessable because they know that if their child gets ahold of their weapon they will be given the needle,all leagle citizens who are registered as responsible gun owners know that you lock your weapons in one place and lock the ammunition for these weapons in another location makeing it harder for these demented children to get a hold on a weapon, one thing i do agree with is why is it so important to own a semi-auto military syle weapon when a good old shotgun works just fine for anything you want to do, especially protecting your house from intrusion. all this mess over the demented minds of others. magical
8:34 a.m.
Congrats, guv. We all know how criminals will be afraid to break the law now
9:38 a.m.
Yes Ms. Patrick please let the people say their piece because as they post these baseless positions of people from the Left they do truly show ignorance about any argument they try and defend with no info to back it up only winding up to be foolish.
10:33 a.m.
What a great political ploy Mr. Cuomo. Do you actually think this will help you collect enough votes to win the presidency? In reality, there seems to be little evidence that assault weapons have been used in virtually ANY crimes in NY. No public input, little discussion, but you beat the president to the punch. Good Job Andrew...This is going to cost you your political career.
10:58 a.m.
@pnotto, I think you've gone off on a predictable tangent that has little to do with the subject at hand, or the points I brought up. Thanks for the sermon though.
2:11 p.m.
ChuckD Riddle me this, why are there more than 517 murders in Chicago with one of the strictest gun bans in the country? Why are there thousands of civillians murdered in Mexico by guns, a country with a nationwide gun ban? Why are handguns not banned in NYS since almost all gun murders and assults are from handguns? Please answer those little questions with your left wing wit....
3:17 p.m.
Mr. ChuckD, no I haven't gone off the deep end, the reason you fail to see my point is that your to blinded by the rose colored glasses that you wear that shields your ability of seeing reality because of your flawed Liberal ideology that has caused all the cultural rot in this country that has led to incidents like Sandy Hook and other tragic events like this one. By the devaluing of human life which your side sanctions you create a society of no mind zombies that have little or no respect for human life. You see ChuckD if you want to see what is the cause of these incidents you Leftists need to look in the mirror then point the finger of blame at yourself. Your right, I fail to see your point of view which is because you and your Leftist patrons don't have one which is common when you folks try and defend your flawed ideology especially by arguing that gun control works and is the answer by decapitating the head from the body to cure the head ache. You say that I go off on a tangential rant? The problem is that you and Leftist pals throw mud at people, then when it is done to you, you cry foul exposing the left as phonies and hypocrites like yourself you can't handle it because someone is challenging your flawed position which BTW you have no position to defend.
6:18 p.m.
Judy Patrick, Would you delete the words of Bob Schieffer who calls NRA members Nazis? I doubt it. You'll probably delete my post since it goes agaimst your propoganda. The Gazette has stated in it's way off base editorial today that it supports the Cuomo's illegal action. Those who go along with this nonsense are wrong, plain and simple. There are only three kinds of people who support gun control. Those who aren't smart enough to understand the issue, those who are willing to give the government more power because they're on the dole, don't contribute and have nothing to lose, and of course the would be tyrants and wanna be dictators who pass these laws. Which catagory does the author of todays editorial fall into?
7:53 p.m.
Thank you Frank, excellent, to the point and true.
9:32 p.m.
Well said Frank...
10:11 p.m.
@wmarancic - If you're gonna come on the grown-up forums you better bring grown-up debating skills. No one's interested in a game 0f Whack-a-Mole.
@pnotto - Wow, you got a lot of words there. Lots of insults, vitriole and spittle too. And to drive your point home you shot yourself in the foot as well. Well done. You'll go far with that approach.
10:32 p.m.
A grown up forum? Really? I wonder why you didn't answer the questions then? Must be you don't have an answer, no problem, I will answer them for you. Gun bans do not stop criminals from getting and using guns to kill, they only stop law abiding citizens from protecting themselves. Also the 2nd ammendment is to protect us from our government, period. Finally, the reason Cuomo pulled this stupid ban out of his butt is to beat Obama to the punch for the national coverage as he will be running in 2016. it has nothing to do with protecting children. Liberals.... You can now go back and post to Justin Biebers fanpage.
3:24 p.m.
I just finding it amazing when liberals like Mr. ChuckD have to bloviate and avoid answering simple questions and accepting simple facts like the issue at hand, which BTW is something that liberals do all to well when they can't defend any position they take. The reason being is that liberals live in a fantasy world, say Disney Land. The liberal mind can't substantiate reality from falsehood. Does that explain it simple enough Mr. ChuckD. Simply put more gun legislation doesn't solve any problems. It just persecutes a particular class of people, the middle class individual, who is a responsible firearms owner. The problem with the liberal mind is that if they don't like an issue or fact of life they must create a way usually through the legislative process that suits them and takes other peoples rights away from those individuals like gun owners. This is similar to what a 3 year-old child does when he/she see an item they want or don't have and they feel the other person should be deprived of it as well by having it forcibly taken away. Here is a fact you can stick in your craw Mr. ChuckD and that is according to national statistics reported by the FBI through the Uniform Crime Report gun ownership is on the rise and has driven down crime against life and property by 50% over the last 8 yrs since the Clinton gun bans expired. Either liberals can't read because of a failing public school system they control or it is from a malfunctioning cognitive thought process the people of the liberal persuasion have which prevents them from processing information presented to them into rational thought and understanding of that information. I don't know folks you tell me how we can further educate people like Mr. ChuckD to see how facts and statistics do support reality.
7:40 a.m.
Phil, it is quite simple, if a liberal does not like something, guns, bibles, Christmas scenes, crosses and God to name a few, they want those things Banned so that nobody can have them. A Conservative who doe not like a gun or does not believe in God just does not buy it or participate in it. We know that there are things that others like and we don't. Who really is the party of intolerance?
1:02 p.m.
For all of you anti-gun Leftist's check this one out...
http://nation.foxnews.com/gun-control/20...