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2010 NY State Legislative Agenda Microstamping (A 6468b Schimel/S 6005 Schneiderman)
Upload Misdemeanor Domestic Violence Records to NICS (Regulatory/DCJS)
5-Year Renewable Gun Permit (A 801a Paulin/S 1598 Schneiderman)
Gun Dealer Responsibility Act (A 1093 Paulin/S 1715 Schneiderman)
2009 NY State Legislative Agenda Microstamping (A6468B/S6864B) This year, the New York State Law Enforcement Council, District Attorney's Association, Attorney General, Association of Chiefs of Police, Sherif's Association, Citizen's Crime Commission, Criminal Justice Coordinator of the City and hundreds police departments and advocacy groups joined together to support Microstamping. These law enforcement officers and law abiding citizens all joined in calling for Microstamping to become law in New York State. In April the Assembly passed its Microstamping bill (sponsored by Assembly Member Schimel) and now the Senate (sponosred by Senator Eric Schneiderman) should do the same. You can read more about microstamping and why the NYS Law Enforcement Council supports it in their 2009 Legislative Agenda. What do all the Law Enforcement experts in NYS know that NYS Legislators in Albany need to learn? Now, we are fortunate to have technology which would "microstamp" an indentifying number onto the firing pin, breechface, and other surfaces of a weapon. When the weapon is fired, the number is transferred to each shell casing and makes it possible to link a casing left at a crime scene to the gun used in the crime, even if the gun is never found. We advocate for this sensible step to make it easier to find and prosecute criminals and keep illegal guns off of our streets. Contact your State Assembly Members and State Senators and tell them you want them to support microstamping. New York should make it harder for criminals to wreck havoc on our communities and easier for the Police to invesitgate illegal guns. The Gun Dealer Responsiblity Act (A1093/S1715) Reseach demonstrates that even a small number of rogue gun dealers can be responsible for a large number of guns falling into the wrong hands. Many of the crime guns used in New York State outside New York City, are purchased within New York State, almost all in the county where the crime occurred, or in an adjacent county. Police Officers investigating crimes need to know as soon as possible who the identity of the original purchaser of the gun, so they can follow the chain of possession to the criminal. Early and easy identification of the first purchaser of the gun makes it more likely that a criminal will be apprehended and therefore not be on the street continuing to use the illegal gun against law abiding citizens or selling it to other criminals. Among other requirements, this bill requires that gun dealers licensed by the state, act responsibly to lock up or otherwise safely store their weapon inventory. This will prevent criminals from easliy burglarizing gun dealers to "smash and grab" weapons. Dealers are also required to maintain accurate inventory of weapons, train their employees to recognize straw purchasers, and follow all laws requiring background checks and other safety measures. These provisions will help insure that only lawful buyers are able to obtain weapons, and only after background checks. Gun Dealer Employees Gun Dealers in New York State who hold federal licenses to sell firearms are required to undergo a Brady background check. Puchasers who go to gun dealers to buy guns also have to undergo a Brady background check. This requirement insures that felons, domestic violence abusers and people who have been adjudicated mentally ill in a court of law, are not permitted to purchase weapons. This makes sense. But employees of gun dealers who actually sell the weapons to the public are NOT required by New York or federal law to undergo a Brady Background check. Even though they conduct background checks everyday and have unfettered access to the inventory of the dealers, these employees have not been properly vetted for the job they are performing. Since gun dealer employees have ready access to inventory and straw purchases are a known problem, the employees ought to be required to pass a Brady background check BEFORE they have access to inventory and are placed in a position of trust. 2008 NY State Legislative Agenda New Yorkers Against Gun Violence worked last year to assist Law Enforcement Officers around the state obtain two important tools to invesitigate and pursue crime guns and the criminals who use them. Although the Assembly passed both bills (The Gun Dealer Responsiblity Act and Microstamping) the Senate refused to act and did not support laws enforcement last year. Instead last year's Senate leadership remained faithful to the NRA and the NYS Rifle and Pistol Association and refused to protect law abiding citizens from illegal weapons and refused to help law enforcement officers in their work to reduce illegal guns. |
