Last week, Gov. Hochul called for a special session in Albany after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down New York’s concealed-carry gun law in favor of keeping the current gun laws. Hochul’s attempted gun legislation would require a specific need to carry a gun outside a resident’s home other than for safety measures. Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R,C,I-Horicon) and his colleagues in the Assembly and Senate will be back in the Capitol Thursday in response to the ruling to vote on the governor’s new package of gun legislation.

“Calling for a sudden special session when legislators have not viewed the bills prior to stepping into the chamber is yet another lack of transparency on both sides of the aisle from Hochul. Her poor attempt to gain political points and skip past the legislative process should be a concern for New Yorkers as Majority lawmaker’s claim they want to fix the public safety crisis.

“The Supreme Court’s decision does not change the pistol permit process and ignores the root of the problem we are facing– illegal possession of firearms out on the streets and the lack of mental health programs offered to residents. This behind-closed-doors deal is not the solution to gun violence. The governor should hold criminals who possess illegal handguns accountable rather than infringing on law-abiding New Yorkers’ Second Amendment right to bear arms and the 14^th Amendment right to self-defense and personal safety,” said Simpson.