Gov Hochul signs off on NY’s strict new gun laws, raises age for rifles, bans body armour
New York Governor Hochul has enacted strict new gun laws on Monday, including raising the age for people to be able to buy semiautomatic weapons and banning body armor.
Gov. Hochul commended lawmakers in the Democrat-led Legislature for taking swift action during the final week of session.
She signed off on the package of 10 bills penned in response to a deadly race-based massacre at a Buffalo supermarket and a Texas school shooting that left dozens dead.
The governor said, “Shots ring out, flags come down and nothing ever changes. Except here in New York.”
She was joined by advocates and dozens of high ranking public officials during an event at a Bronx YMCA.
“In New York, we are taking strong bold action.”
The biggest change in law is a new requirement that anyone seeking to buy a semiautomatic rifle must be at least 21, up from 18, and must first obtain a gun license.
Previously, permits were only needed for handguns.
The new laws will also revise the state’s “red flag” statute, which allows courts to temporarily take away guns from people who might be a threat to themselves or others, and require microstamping in new firearms.
Now, healthcare professionals and others will be able to file “red flag” risk orders if someone is a threat. Likewise, police will be required to seek an order if credible information is provided.
The package also includes measures prohibiting the sale and purchase of body armor for anyone not in law enforcement and closing the “any other weapon” loophole that allowed the sale of certain firearms that would otherwise be banned under existing state law.
A new task force will also be added to the state attorney general’s office to “study and investigate the role of social media companies in promoting and facilitating violent extremism and domestic terrorism.”
Social media companies operating in New York will also be required to improve policies related to responding to and reporting hateful conduct on their platforms.
