New York: 2011 Legislative Summary

The New York Legislature adjourned this summer, and gun owners were able to successfully hold back all but one anti-gun related bill during the 2011 legislative session.  However, these issues are still alive for the 2012 session, and the NRA will to continue to work against these anti-gun bills. 

Of the nearly 200 gun bills introduced, only one was passed and signed into law.  Assembly Bill 698D, sponsored by Assemblyman Amy Paulin (D-88), will require the transmission of misdemeanor domestic violence convictions to the federal NICS database.  This bill is duplicative of federal law. 

Again this session, the top gun issue in New York was micro-stamping.  While Assembly Bill 1157, introduced by Assemblyman Michelle Schimel (D-16), passed in the Assembly by an 84 to 55 vote in May, the Senate did not hold a committee hearing on this bill, effectively stopping this ill-conceived legislation for now.  Micro-stamping is easily circumvented and useless in terms of public safety, despite the sensationalized claims of gun control advocates.  This legislation would be very harmful to gun owners, adding another layer of unneeded regulation at a cost to manufacturers who will pass along those costs to ammunition and gun purchasers.  The NRA strongly opposes this bill as it would likely force firearm manufactures to stop selling handguns in the Empire state, effectively resulting in a ban on the sale of handguns in New York.  In addition, it would likely lead many New York-based manufacturers to relocate their facilities out of state.

The NRA will continue to support Senate Bill 459, sponsored by state Senator Mike Nozzolio (R-54), which would eliminate the expensive and unsuccessful Combined Ballistic Identification System (COBIS).  This gun control gimmick costs taxpayers four million dollars annually, while failing to prevent or solve a single gun crime.  This bill passed in the Senate by a 38 to 22 vote in June, and the Assembly must pass this legislation before it goes to the Governor.

On a positive note, hunters were victorious in several counties, where rifle hunting seasons were approved and signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo.