Legislators were joined by New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, students and families affected by gun violence to announce bills and proposals aimed at further curbing gun deaths in New York.
The ten bill package was presented by Assemblyman Brian Kavanagh, D-Manhattan, the chair of New York legislators for Gun Violence Protection, and the Assembly and Senate sponsors of each bill. Also in attendance were student members of NYAGV’s education program, which helps to empower young people whose families have been affected by guns.
Kavanagh hopes the package will expand upon the provisions of the SAFE act, and further protect New Yorkers from gun violence.
“With the SAFE Act, we really took a number of steps forward that brought New York into the top tier in terms of stronger gun laws in America. And we’ve seen results,” Kavanagh said. “New York is among the lowest states in terms of per capita gun deaths in the country, and we’ve seen the SAFE act work in spite of predictions by some who opposed it at the time, that said it would be a disaster for law abiding gun owners in our communities.”
A bill (A.05826, S.00470) introduced by Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee, D-Suffern, and Senator Jose Peralta, D-Jackson Heights, would require microstamping technology be implemented on all firearms manufactured after January 2018. Microstamping produces a unique code on casings ejected from a gun, allowing crime investigators to track the weapon type and original purchaser.
The technology could deter individuals from using a gun to commit a crime, as it can be easily traced.
“The technology is designed to discourage gun trafficking,” Jaffee said, “And to aid law enforcement officials in investigating homicides and other crimes by allowing them to trace the firearms to the original purchasers through cartridge cases found at the crime scene.”
Three bills in the package aim to keep guns away from volatile individuals, specifically those convicted of hate crimes, domestic violence, and those displaying destructive behavior.
Senator Daniel Squadron, D-Carroll Gardens, and Assemblywoman Latrice Walker, D-Brownsville, introduced a bill (A.7547/S.5569-a) that would prevent those convicted of hate crimes from possessing a gun.
Squadron hopes the package of bills will see speedy passage despite discontent between democrats in the Senate. “I wish I could say that [I was] here representing the entire state Senate,” he said. “But we know that when it comes to common sense legislation to protect New Yorkers and their families, too often the Senate has stood in the way.”
Similarly, two bills introduced by Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, D-Scarsdale, and Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell, D-Manhattan, (A.0980 and A.5025) would expand the types of guns that domestic violence offenders are required to surrender, and include misdemeanor domestic violence offenses as a reason to revoke an individual’s ownership rights.
A third bill would restrict an individual’s access to guns if police or family members observe a potential threat from that individual’s behavior. If the individual displays erratic or violent behavior, the bill (A.6994/ S.5447) introduced by Senator Brad Hoylman, D-Manhattan, and Assemblyman Kavanagh, would allow family members to seek a court order to restrict that person from obtaining a gun.
Legislation proposed as part of this package will also implement expanded safety practices. This includes requiring proper storage of firearms, proposed by Assemblywoman Paulin, and Senator Jeff Klein, D-Bronx, (A.0563/S.4392) to prevent accidental shooting, particularly by children.
Another bill proposal (A.0914), sponsored by Assemblyman Thomas Abinanti, D-Greenburgh, and Senator Kevin Parker, D-Brooklyn, would restrict the sale, transport, and possession of guns that are undetectable by x-ray machines and other security devices.
Two bills in this package will also attempt to provide information about gun violence, and in turn, focus the efforts of closing certain background check loopholes that currently exist.
The first (A.2977), proposed by Assemblywoman Jo Anne Simon, D-Brooklyn, will establish a gun violence research fund, which will be expended to the department of health, by way of a bill proposed by Senator Roxanne Persaud, D-Brooklyn, and Assemblyman Matthew Titone, D-Staten Island, (A.6640/S.4363) to create a SUNY gun violence research initiative.
Further gun violence prevention efforts will effectively be created in response to the potential findings of a gun violence research institute. Assemblymember Simon expressed that a research institute would “examine the causes and impacts of firearm violence and provide scientific evidence on which to base effective prevention efforts,” she said. “For far too long, there has not been adequate investment in research on firearm violence.”
Assemblyman Kavanagh and Senator Michael Gianaris, D-Queens, have also proposed a bill (A.3438/S.5808) that would close some loopholes in New York’s background check process. The legislation would give law enforcement 10 days, instead of three, to complete a background check, and require that sellers report anyone attempting to purchase a firearm that fails a background check. It will also require gun dealer employees to have a clean background check as well.
A bill in the drafting stage by Assemblywoman Pam Hunter, D-Syracuse, would join New York in an interstate agreement to combat the flow of illegal guns over state lines. The issue is of great importance in Syracuse, which saw 30 homicides in 2016 – the highest in the city’s history.
“The guns that are killing our young people in the city of Syracuse aren’t manufactured in New York, don’t come from that community, they’re coming from different states,” Hunter said.
Lastly, a bill proposed by Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, D-Manhattan, (A.4798) would establish guidelines for a statewide gun buyback program, which has seen success in cities across New York, particularly in Yonkers, which has seen a decline in gun violence since the implementation of their buyback program, according to Deputy Chief Tim Hodges.
“What we decided to do was have a gun tip hotline, and it was totally anonymous and it was only for illegal guns, not legal guns,” he said.
Hodges recruited the help of James Nolan, a resident of Yonkers whose brother, Michael Nolan, a professional baseball recruit was fatally shot in 2015. Nolan says his help in gaining the trust of the community has benefitted the program and the city.
“After Michael’s sudden and tragic death, I had a choice. My choice was to make the streets better and safer as much as I can,” Nolan said.
Assemblyman Kavanagh hopes that this bill package will help protect New Yorkers from “unnecessary” gun violence.
“We still have levels of gun violence in our country and in our state that are unacceptable,” he said. “We’ve made progress but we need to do more.”
