Gov. Andrew Cuomo
New York lawmakers agreed to pass the toughest gun control law in the
nation and the first since the Newtown, Conn., school shooting, and now
dare other states and Washington to follow.
"This is a scourge on society," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday night,
six days after making gun control a centerpiece of his progressive
agenda in his State of the State address. The bipartisan effort was
fueled by the Newtown tragedy that took the lives of 20 first graders
and six educators. "At what point do you say, 'No more innocent loss of
life.'"
Sen. Jeffrey Klein, leader of the Independent Democratic Conference in
the Senate, said it is landmark legislation. "This is not about taking
anyone's rights away," said Klein, a Bronx Democrat. "It's about a safe
society ... today we are setting the mark for the rest of the county to
do what's right."
The measure, which calls for a tougher assault weapons ban and
restrictions on ammunition and the sale of guns, passed the Senate 43-18
on the strength of support from Democrats, many of whom previously
sponsored bills that were once blocked by Republicans. The Democrat-led
Assembly gaveled out before midnight and planned to take the issue up at
10 a.m. Tuesday. It is expected to pass easily, reports The Associated
Press.
The governor confirmed the proposal, previously worked out in closed
session, also would mandate a police registry of assault weapons,
grandfathering in assault weapons already in private hands.
It would create a more powerful tool to require the reporting of
mentally ill people who say they intend to use a gun illegally and would
address the unsafe storage of guns, the governor confirmed.
It was agreed upon exactly a month since the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy.
"It is well-balanced, it protects the Second Amendment," said Senate
Republican leader Dean Skelos of Long Island. "And there is no
confiscation of weapons, which was at one time being considered.
"This is going to go after those who are bringing illegal guns into the
state, who are slaughtering people in New York City," Skelos said.
"This is going to put people in jail and keep people in jail who
shouldn't be out on the street in the first place."
-culled from AP
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