Assemblymember Bronson: Today, New York Again Showed It Will Lead on Gun Safety and Will Protect All New Yorkers from SCOTUS’s Attacks

“Today, I was especially proud to join my Assembly Majority colleagues in passing timely gun safety legislation in response to a dangerous Supreme Court ruling that is proposing a firearms free-for-all for New York State.The SCOTUS conservative justices have acted recklessly on ruling after ruling these last few weeks, and gun safety and violence prevention didn’t escape their foolishness. In New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, the SCOTUS right wing majority overturned a 100-year-old law requiring anyone who wished to carry a handgun in public, to demonstrate “proper cause” before they could obtain a permit to do so.”

“Here in New York, we will not ignore the horror of the racist shooting in Buffalo or the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. In New York, we value the lives of our loved ones over guns and are taking action to protect every New Yorker’s right to feel and be safe in their community. Provisions of the firearm security package we passed today include:

  • Applying specific standards, in order to receive a permit, including training requirements
  • Require information be submitted with the application, including contact information for the applicant and their current spouse/partner and those living with them, character references, and other information requested by the licensing officer
  • Establish a statewide/centralized appeals process for when a permit has been denied
  • Change permit duration for concealed carry from five to three years
  • Establish what are known as “sensitive locations” where carrying a firearm, rifle or shotgun would be prohibited and subject to a class E felony, including for example government buildings, places of worship, libraries, schools, polling places, theaters, stadiums, etc.
  • Carrying on private property would be prohibited unless the property owner or lessee gives consent, posted signs explicitly authorizing the possession of firearms, rifles or shotguns, subject to a class E felony
  • Amend the crime of failure to safely store rifles, shotguns, and firearms to apply to individuals who live with someone under the age of 18 (currently 16)

“Today’s measures are in addition to the legislation we passed earlier this month, such as expanding the 2019 Red Flag law and raising the age to purchase a semiautomatic rifle to 21 years of age. New York has shown it will continue to lead on gun safety and will protect all New Yorkers from SCOTUS’s politically driven attacks.”