NY Dems introduce package of 9 gun control bills

A group of Democrats in the New York Senate, joined by gun control advocates, debuted a new collection of proposed regulations on firearms in the state. (Photo: NY Senate Dems)

Democrats in the New York Senate on Tuesday unveiled a host of measures that range from banning bump stocks and expanded waiting periods to establishing Extreme Risk Protection Orders.

The proposals hyped this week would stretch background checks to 10 days, ban undetectable firearms, allow lawsuits against gun manufacturers, fund research into gun violence, and add a wide range of new laws to the books in New York. Proponents of the bills say they are aimed at increasing public safety while standing up to what they term “the corporate gun lobby.”

“Enacting this common-sense legislation will help save lives by keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals and banning tools to make legal guns more dangerous,” said Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousin in a press conference. The legislation includes:

• S.3355, by Sen. Liz Krueger, would mandate guns not in use be locked up or otherwise secured under penalty of law. Krueger has had similar legislation turned away in the past.
• S.4363, by Sen. Roxanne Persaud, would create a taxpayer-funded “Firearm Violence Research Institute” to study “gun violence and develop methods of prevention.” California last year adopted a similar program, which has been slammed by gun rights advocates who say the practice allows for unequal access to public data which could be tailored to further a political agenda.
• S.5808-A, introduced by Sen. Michael Gianaris, will establish a 10-day waiting period to conduct background checks on gun purchases. The language of the bill also requires firearm dealers to report attempted possibly illegal gun purchases.
• S.5829, introduced by Sen. Kevin Parker, would make it a Class D felony to have, make or sell a gun that cannot be picked up by a metal detector. A federal ban on undetectable firearms has been in effect for years.
• S.5922, filed by Sen. Jamaal Bailey, will open up the gun industry to lawsuits if they “negligently market firearms to irresponsible buyers.” New York is home to a number of gun makers including Remington and has over 2,300 federal firearms licensees.
• S.6902, proposed by Sen. Brad Hoylman, will make it a Class D Felony to possess a bump stock or similar device. Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo has argued that the devices are already illegal in the state.
• S.7133, introduced by Sen. Brian Kavanagh, would establish Extreme Risk Protection Orders which would allow courts to issue an order to seize guns from individuals reported to be at risk to themselves or others.
• Kavanagh also debuted S.7072, to add hate crimes to the list of offenses that strip someone of gun rights; as well as  S.7605,  which would require state officials to check the mental health records of an out-of-state resident during gun permit applications.

The bills have widespread support from gun control groups, including Giffords, Moms Demand Action, and New Yorkers Against Gun Violence

“As easy access to guns continues to cause daily carnage across this country, our New York lawmakers must step forward and pass critical gun safety laws that will keep our communities safe,” said Rebecca Fischer with NYAGV.