NY Gov Hochul signs several gun control measures into law

(The Center Square) — Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed several firearm control bills into law and is touting new numbers showing gun violence is down in the state.

One bill would require gun dealers to post warnings at sales counters and distribute paper warnings with every sale that the presence of a gun in the home "increases the risk of suicide, accidental death or shooting deaths" in times of domestic dispute.

Another bill signed by the governor updates the definition of "pistol converter" to state criminal law. It requires gun shops to make "reasonable" efforts to prevent the sale or installation of the devices, which are now defined as fully automatic weapons that are banned in New York and restricted by federal law.

"Gun violence is an epidemic that is tearing our country apart. Thoughts and prayers won’t fix this, but taking strong action will," Hochul said in remarks on Thursday. "That’s why in New York, we’re taking bold steps to protect the people of our state."

Hochul also touted new data indicating that shootings in New York are down 53% from the peak in 2022 and murders are down 40%, saying it shows the state's tough gun control laws are working.

The governor also signed a bill that she claims will reduce gun violence further by requiring debit and credit card providers to code transactions at gun stores and other retail establishments that sell firearms and ammunition. She said the new rule will help regulators flag unusual activity at gun stores.

"We know if someone is stockpiling ammo, that is not a good sign," Hochul said.

Republicans argue that the changes are necessary and infringe on New Yorker's Second Amendment rights. Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a New York Republican, has filed a bill in Congress that would outlaw the tracking of gun purchases with a merchant category code, which she argues "is a violation and infringement on the Constitutional rights of law-abiding Americans."

New York is facing several other lawsuits over that and other firearm restrictions, including a challenge to a law signed by Hochul that makes it illegal to carry a firearm on private property without consent from the owner and another seeking to strike down its restrictions on sales of civilian body armor.

Second Amendment groups have criticized Hochul's latest efforts to tighten gun control laws, arguing that crime is still rampant in the state despite the current restrictions.

"These bills have nothing to do with public safety," the NRA said in a recent statement. "New York already has some of the toughest gun laws in the country, and anti-gun politicians in Albany are scraping the bottom of the barrel trying to find things to do at a time when crime has been rampant in New York."