Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R,C-Batavia) recently bashed New York state’s new ammunition background check mandate. Beginning September 13^th, a background check is required prior to the purchase of firearm, rifle or shotgun ammunition and the responsibility for initiating NICS background checks for firearm, rifle or shotgun purchases has shifted to the State Police. Gun dealers and licensed ammunition sellers must now contact the State Police online to process these background checks, which include an additional fee. An automated phone system is expected to be active sometime next month. Hawley is disappointed that the Supreme Court did not recognize the state’s overreach on our Second Amendment rights and is committed to reversing this mandate in the State Assembly.

For any questions or concerns about this new background check provision, please contact the New York State Police directly either by phone, 1-877-NYS-NICS, or email, nysnics@troopers.ny.gov;

“This new mandate from the state government is yet another attempt to infringe on the rights of law-abiding citizens of New York,” said Hawley. “Policies like this are pushing New Yorkers out of our state and putting our small businesses in a difficult situation. Already we are seeing business owners reporting hours-long wait times for background check approvals. Businesses would never do things this way on their own and the state is now forcing them to operate in this new inefficient and confusing system,” continued Hawley.

“While this mandate is currently in effect, I will not stand for our rights being chipped away at piece by piece. I would encourage anyone who has questions to go through the proper avenues and contact the state police so that they can properly navigate this new regulation. As your assemblyman, I will continue to fight for your rights and reverse disastrous policies like this.”