LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

Legislature passes new gun control laws

Posted

If the Assembly has its way, gun laws will be just a little tougher in New York.

The legislature passed a package of new regulations on firearms last week, all of which are expected to get Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s signature, if they haven’t already.

The new bills, according to Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, establish several new laws, including the creation of “extreme risk” protection orders through temporary court actions which target people a judge believes to pose a severe threat of harm.

The legislation also would outlaw devices that modify firearms to allow for rapid-firing, as was used in the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.

Background checks for purchasing guns have been extended for 30 days, while at the same time the state will establish a municipal gun buyback program.

Going against what Washington has suggested, New York will prevent schools from arming classroom teachers with weapons, while out-of-state residents who own homes in New York will be subject to the same background check of mental health records as those who live in the state full-time.

“We have said ‘never again’ too many times,” Dinowitz said, in a release.

“Despite New York having some of the strongest gun control laws in the nation, loopholes and technological advances have laid bare our need to do more. After years of various legislative proposals being blocked by quislings of the NRA in the (now) state senate minority, I am incredibly proud that we were able to re-establish New York’s rightful place in setting the national tone on how to combat gun violence.”

 

Paycheck Fairness Act back on table

U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel has joined House Democrats in re-introducing the Paycheck Fairness Act, designed to build on previous laws that would close the pay gap and ensure equal pay for equal work.

“We made great progress with the Lilly Ledbetter Act in 2009, which was the first bill President Obama signed into law,” Engel said, in a release. “Now that Democrats have retaken the House, we’re making sure equal pay for equal work is a top priority again.”

Andrew Cuomo, Jeffrey Dinowitz, NRA, Eliot Engel, Paycheck Fairness Act, Lilly Ledbetter Act, Barack Obama, Michael Hinman,

Comments