Tightening N.Y. gun laws
Pols vote on bans in subway, buses, schools
ALBANY — New York lawmakers returned to the State Capitol Thursday as they prepared to take steps toward barring guns in a multitude of “sensitive locations” and banning people from carrying firearms into businesses unless owners explicitly say they are allowed.
Gov. Hochul called the Legislature back to Albany for an “extraordinary session” in order to respond to last week’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down a 100-year-old New York law limiting who can carry a concealed handgun in public.
After initially planning to start around noon, lawmakers spent much of the day waiting for the bill language to be released.
“We’re continuing to have serious discussions, because the implications are hard to overstate,” Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Brooklyn) told reporters around 2:30 p.m. “We want to ensure we’re doing this in a constitutional way, in a way that comports with the court’s opinion.”
On Wednesday, Hochul said a conceptual agreement had been reached on the “top lines” of the legislation, including barring guns from being brought into government buildings, schools, subways and buses, medical facilities and “places where kids gather” such as zoos and museums.
The governor also said that under the agreement weapons would not be welcome in private businesses unless owners explicitly state that they allow concealed firearms on their property, most likely by posting a sign indicating that gun-toting patrons are welcome.
Other changes being considered would set new requirements for obtaining a handgun permit, including strengthening background checks and mandating 15 hours of in-person firing range training.
Lawmakers, who wrapped up the regular legislative session earlier this month, were also looking to tighten rules related to gun storage in homes and vehicles and requiring background checks for all ammunition purchases for guns that need a permit.
The rush to action came seven days after the nation’s highest court, in a 6-3 ruling, determined that a longstanding New York law requiring those applying for a concealed carry license to show “proper cause” violated the Constitution.
While the decision does not mean those who have a regular pistol permit can now go out and carry a weapon in public, it makes it so current gun owners to can more easily obtain a concealed carry license.
“Extraordinary times calls for an extraordinary session,” Lt. Gov. Antonio Delgado said as he gaveled in the Senate around 1 p.m.
However, by 8 p.m. Hochul and the Dem-led Legislature were still hammering out details and addressing other issues as unresolved business from the recently concluded session appeared to be back on the table.
Lawmakers said they were working with Hochul on small changes to a yet-to-be-signed bill extending mayoral control over city schools by two years. Mayor Adams said he was optimistic the measure would be signed before Thursday’s deadline.
Also under consideration is an amendment that would enshrine abortion rights and gender equality in the state constitution in response to a separate Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, which protected abortion rights at the federal level.
The proposal would amend the state constitution to guarantee abortion rights and prohibit discrimination based on national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and sex, including pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes.
If passed, the measure would then have to be approved again during the next legislative session, which begins in January, before going before voters.