BY: PCJC

Today, the New York legislature overwhelmingly enacted tough new gun control measures that would broadly ban all assault weapons, limit the size of gun magazines to 7 bullets, impose background checks for all gun sales, and require mental health professionals to alert authorities to persons with mental illnesses who are believed to have guns. Other provisions in the bill add new gun crimes, increase punishments for gun-related offenses, and protect the privacy of gun owners.

The legislation, known as the Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act (NY – SAFE), is the first enactment by an state of new and tougher gun laws following the massacre in Sandy Hook elementary school the killed twenty children and 6 school staff. Here is the full text of the bill.

Related Readings:

Sweeping Limits on Guns Become Law in New York by Thomas Kaplan (New York Times, Jan. 2013)
Community View: Gun owners have a responsibility by Bennett L. Gershman (Dec. 28, 2012)
Editorial: Experts Discuss Future of Gun Laws, Mental-Health Treatment (Dec. 20, 2012)
Editorial Spotlight Replay: Panel Discusses Next Steps After Newtown (Dec. 19, 2012)
Editorial Spotlight: Panel to Discuss Next Steps After Newtown (Dec. 18, 2012)