This week, State Senator Eric Schneiderman (D-31), Chairman of the Codes Committee, introduced Senate Bill 1598, legislation similar to Assembly Bill 801. This bill directly targets law-abiding pistol license holders by requiring licenses be renewed every five years. In addition, it would mandate that all applicants outside New York City complete training and a test before a license may be issued. Keep in mind that a license is required in New York State simply to possess a handgun and in many cases licensees are only allowed to keep a handgun in their homes or businesses or to travel to and from the range. This would mean that most qualified New Yorkers could be put through training and a test still to be denied the right to carry a firearm for the purpose of self-defense. If this proposal is approved, gun owners can expect that a process that is already unfair in most parts of the state will become more so.
Next week, a dangerous bill, Senate Bill 1069, introduced by State Senator Carl Kruger (D-27) will be considered by the Senate Codes Committee that will give the State Police broad authority to outlaw firearms based what they look like, how they are assembled, the materials they are made with and whether they are "readily" detectable by "standard security equipment." The bill (as well as its companion, Assembly Bill 4057) does not provide a definition of "standard security equipment" and does not contain any testing procedures, thus allowing the Superintendent of the State Police the sole discretion to arbitrarily decide which guns should be banned. This could have major implications for the availability of all types of firearms in New York State.
Please call your lawmakers TODAY and urge them to oppose S1598/A801 and S1069/AB4057.
State Assembly Members can be reached by phone at (518) 455-4100. To find your Assembly Member, click here. Your State Senator can be contacted through the Senate switchboard at (518) 455-2800. To find your State Senator, please click here.
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