State lawmakers pass abortion protections and new gun permitting law

New York lawmakers has passed an amendment that would enshrine the right to an abortion in the state constitution and a gun bill that introduced new protections and limitations on concealed carry permits.

Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the gun legislation into law shortly before 9 p.m. Friday, though it won’t take effect until Sept. 1.

The amendment on abortion rights will need to be voted on again in the next legislative session — in 2023 or 2024 — before being sent to voters for a statewide referendum

In the overnight hours of Thursday into Friday morning, lawmakers struck a deal on something that has eluded them for weeks: an amendment to the state constitution protecting civil rights, and keeping abortion legal in New York State. The bills were part of an extraordinary session called this week by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

“It was very hard for people to anticipate a post Roe world,” Hochul said. “Despite the fact that in New York we feel protected, but there is always that underlying anxiety that what if Washington does something else. What if there is a change in leadership in our nation’s capital. So, they are scared.”

The amendment was added to the extraordinary session called by the governor to address the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on guns.

Last week, the high court struck down New York State’s concealed carry law for pistols — finding the process for obtaining one in the state was too arbitrary.

Under the new law, obtaining a permit will be through a uniform, statewide standard.

“We are also going to be expanding the disqualifying criteria for a permit. For example, if you have a history of dangerous behavior you shouldn’t be able to get a gun. Full stop. Period. That’s just common sense,” Hochul said.

Lawmakers also created a list of new places where individuals cannot carry firearms — such as schools, hospitals, parks and stadiums. They even included Times Square.

“And of course, a place like Times Square. Where we know has been not only a huge gathering place but a targeted place,” Democratic State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said. “So, it seemed appropriate. We are trying to create uniformity, which is really what the Supreme Court asked us to do.”

With so many new regulations for gun owners to comply with, critics say New York’s new law is likely to get challenged and struck down by the court’s again for failing to comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling.

“The Supreme Court did say you could still have criteria to how guns are being issued,” Democratic Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said. “So, we believe that falls in line with what we are able to do.”

The gun legislation will also impose new rules for licensing, such as live training and storage requirements for those who keep guns in the home.