New York may be the first state to enact new restrictions on assault weapons ownership, if Albany can get its act together. Various media outlets report that the State Senate and Assembly are making progress toward passing what Governor Cuomo hinted at last week. The Times Union reports, "Lawmakers have reached a tentative agreement on a bill to broaden the state's definition of banned assault weapons, increase penalties for those convicted of gun crimes and create a statewide registry of assault rifles, according to people briefed on the draft bill."
Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D) told the Times-Union that "the legislation would adjust the definition of a banned assault rifle so that any single characteristic — a telescoping stock, a bayonet attachment, a pistol grip — on a semi-automatic rifle qualifies it to be banned. Existing weapons would be grandfathered in, Silver said, but their ownership could not be transferred." Additionally, there would be a statewide registry for these weapons.
The NY Times reports, "The deal being negotiated in New York would not only expand the state’s ban on assault weapons, but would also reduce the legal capacity of gun magazines to 7 rounds, from 10. It would include new measures to keep guns away from the mentally ill, to increase penalties for gun crimes, and to require background checks for private gun sales. And it would expand Kendra’s Law, which empowers judges to order mentally ill patients to receive outpatient treatment."
Some gun rights' advocates are worried, but Republican State Senator Marty Golden said, "I can’t see anything killing this. The deal is going to get done."
Why the rush? Well, if you want to feel cynical, here's the Daily News' insight: "Insiders say Cuomo, who is believed to harbor aspirations to run for the White House in 2016, wants to seize the political high ground following Newtown by having New York pass measures aimed at reducing gun violence before such a step can be taken by Congress or any other state."
