By Joseph P. Tartaro | Executive Editor
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo seems determined to be the lead dog in the current Democratic Party’s nationwide anti-gun sled, and he’s aided and abetted by his fellow Democrats, who control both houses of the State Legislature.
They had hardly taken total control when they moved forward on his onslaught against gunowners. They shunted aside their struggle over a $2.9 billion budget deficit and the legalization of recreational marijuana to put their anti-gun campaign on the front burner.
While no new gun control bills had been signed into law since the 2013 SAFE Act, once given the keys to the shop again, they immediately started carving up the Second Amendment.
All eight bills outlined by the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA) in a January alert passed along nearly straight party lines. The key bills passed included:
S.1414/A.763 establishes certain crimes relating to the criminal possession or manufacture of an undetectable firearm, rifle or shotgun. Undetectable guns have been illegal for 30 years. Federal law passed in 1988 makes it unlawful to manufacture, import, sell, ship, deliver, possess, transfer, or receive an undetectable firearm. This legislation essentially bans 3-D printing of firearms. NRA-ILA reminded that there is zero evidence that criminals are using this expensive and complicated technology to manufacture firearms that are used in the commission of crimes.
S.2374/A.2690 extends the waiting period of NICS holds to 30 days. Under current federal law, if a NICS check comes back inconclusive, dealers have three additional days before they can complete the transfer. Someone who happens to have a common name like John Smith, is now forced to wait a full month. This bill will have disastrous and potentially deadly consequences for some, including women who want to purchase a firearm to protect themselves against domestic abusers.
S.2448/A.2684 prohibits the possession, manufacture, transport and disposition of “rapid-fire” modification devices. This bill is poorly written and would ban a variety of legal firearm accessories, including many competition or aftermarket triggers. It is also completely redundant and unnecessary as many of the covered accessories are already illegal under federal and state law. Again, this is nothing more than political pandering and will do nothing to enhance public safety.
S.2450/A.2686 relates to requirements for the safe storage of rifles, shotguns and firearms. This mandatory storage law would do nothing more than render firearms useless in self-defense situations. Criminals love this bill as it tips the scales in their favor in self-defense situations.
S.2451/A.2689 establishes extreme risk protection orders as a court-issued order of protection prohibiting a person from purchasing, possessing or attempting to purchase or possess a firearm, rifle or shotgun. NRA opposes this legislation because it does not contain strong due process protections for respondents who could potentially lose the Second Amendment rights. This legislation is perhaps one of the more dangerous in the package as it would become a widely used instrument to take away someone’s constitutional rights with little or no due process.
Cuomo is expected to promptly sign all of gun control bills the Legislature passed.
