NY Gov Signs Raft of New Gun Control Bills Into Law

Last updated on October 15th, 2024 at 09:15 am

Democrat New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed multiple new gun control bills into law last week, including measures to refine so-called “Red Flag” laws in the state, and to require new warning notices during firearms sales.

“Gun violence is an epidemic that is tearing our country apart. Thoughts and prayers won’t fix this, but taking strong action will,” Hochul said during the Oct. 9 bill signing. “That’s why in New York, we are taking bold steps to protect the people of our state.”

Among the bills she signed was S6649/A2882, requiring firearms dealers and gunsmiths to post warning signs in their places of business, and to again distribute warnings at the point of sale, stating firearms increase the risk of suicide, death during domestic disputes, and/or unintentional death of children.

The law is inspired by federal laws requiring producers of tobacco products to include health warning labels on their packaging.

Another bill Hochul signed, S9760/A10356A, requires firearms licensing authorities in the state to provide license applicants with information about state resources for firearm storage, and gun violence prevention, along with local storage firearm requirements that may apply in their case.

Hochul signed another bill, S7365B/A10053A, defines “pistol converter” devices as devices that can be attached to a semi-automatic-firing pistol, that enable a user to speed up the rate of fire or achieve automatic fire. The bill’s proponents said it also requires gun industry to take “reasonable steps” to prevent people from being able to pair pistol converter devices with their firearm products.

“New Yorkers are fed up with gun manufacturers ignoring their role in this nation’s epidemic of gun violence, so we’re taking action where they won’t. I’m proud that my first-in-the-nation bill has been signed into law, holding Glock and other Glock-like firearm manufacturers accountable for failing to take steps to ensure their pistols cannot be easily converted into illegal fully automatic machine gun,” Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon (D), a sponsor of S7365B/A10053A, said at the bill signing.

Bill S3340/A5873, which Hochul also signed into law, amends New York’s extreme risk protection order (ERPO) laws, also referred to as “Red Flag” laws. Such laws provide a legal framework by which law enforcement officers may seize a person’s firearms if they deem that person to pose a threat of harm to themselves or others but haven’t actually lost their firearm ownership rights through a criminal conviction.

S3340/A5873 now requires courts to notify a state registry of protection orders and court orders whenever a temporary or final ERPO is issued. The bill aims to ensure law enforcement officers are aware when they’re dealing with a suspect with a standing ERPO.

Hochul’s office reported courts across the state have issued more than 22,000 ERPOs to date since implementing ERPO laws.

The New York governor also signed into law S8479A/A9862A, which requires credit and debit card issuers doing business in the state to apply a special merchant category code (MCC) for firearms and ammunition related purchases. The merchant codes apply to all businesses whose largest sales value comes from the combined sale of firearms, firearm accessories, or ammunition. The bill further empowers the New York state attorney general to to initiate enforcement action for any violations not cured within 30 days. Infractions can incur a fine of up to $10,000 per instance of noncompliance.

Many of the bill sponsors joined Hochul at the signing ceremony, as did several leading national gun control advocates. John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety, attended, as did Brady Campaign senior policy advisor Tanya Schardt; and former U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords (D-AZ), a survivor of a 2011 assassination attempt and namesake of the Giffords Law Center.

“I am proud to sign this package of bills that will help improve safety across New York,” Hochul said during the bill signing. “While we are taking timely steps to improve New York State’s nation-leading gun laws, we recognize that gun violence is a national problem. Once again, I urge Congress to follow our lead and take immediate action to pass meaningful gun violence prevention measures. Lives depend on it.”

During the signing ceremony, Hochul’s office announced New York City and the 28 police departments participating in the state’s Gun Violence Elimination Initiative (GIVE) have reported a 47 percent drop in injurious shooting incidents since she took office in 2021. Hochul’s office also said gun violence in the state has “declined to pre-pandemic levels,” referring to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Hochul’s office reported law enforcement agencies across the state have seized more than 7,700 illegal guns so far this year.

She signed the various new gun control measures just one day before a federal judge struck down portions of a 2022 New York law, designed to expand the list of places where firearm carry is prohibited.