NEW YORK (Washington Insider Magazine) – Governor Kathy Hochul made the announcement on Friday night that she had passed the legislation, which was created in reaction to the latest Supreme Court decision on concealed carry laws and was just passed by legislators this evening.
The law bans carrying a hidden weapon in “sensitive locations.” Public transit and airports, places of worship, amusement parks, Times Square, restaurants, and bars are just a few examples of sensitive settings.
According to ABC NEWS, the new law will take full effect on Sept. 1, 2022.
Hochul signed the bill after it was approved by the New York State Senate on Friday. The measure bans carrying a concealed weapon in sensitive areas, which includes Times Square and all public transportation. In a special session earlier in the day, the bill was passed.
The bill was passed after the Supreme Court struck down a state statute that only let those with “proper cause” to get concealed carry permits.
According to the law, sensitive locations where firearms cannot be carried include trains, subways, ferries, buses, as well as places of worship, governmental structures, public playgrounds, libraries, schools, public parks, voting locations, homeless shelters, and zoos.
On Wednesday, Governor Hochul said that lawmakers intended to create “sensitive places” law. In a special session that commenced on Thursday and was convened by Hochul, the measure was submitted in the state Senate.
The measure also aims to outlaw the carrying of firearms on any privately owned property by default, unless the property owner has posted signs allowing firearms or has otherwise given their agreement.
Active duty military personnel, police enforcement, peace officers, and security staff are exempt from this rule and are permitted to carry firearms in sensitive areas. Guns may be carried in sensitive locations by people who are lawfully hunting.
The bill would make it a criminal penalty to carry a gun in a prohibited place.
Police will verify a state-wide licensing and record database on a regular basis to make sure it’s still accurate and to see whether somebody no longer has a valid license. Records for protection orders, extreme risk protection orders, criminal records, mental health issues, and criminal indictments must be verified with the records.
An existing statute that creates a database for ammunition to track sales in New York is modified by the new legislation.
Dealers and sellers of firearms and ammunition will also need to maintain track of all their dealings involving these items.
A need for firearm owners to lock up their weapons in a suitable safe storage depository out of sight from outside the vehicle and remove bullets from the weapon will also be added by the bill to the already-existing safe storage legislation. Otherwise, gun owners wouldn’t be able to leave their weapon in a vehicle or somewhere else than their immediate possession.
In proposing the bill on Wednesday, Hochul stated that it aims to reduce auto burglaries involving firearms.
As of right now, New York law mandates that gun owners who have children in the house who are 16 years old or under secure their weapons in safe storage and keep them locked up. The new law raises that minimum age limit to 18 years old.
