A.    REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ILLEGAL FIREARMS ON THE STREET

Across New York State, most guns used in crimes originate from out of state.

1999 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF) trace data of crime guns indicate that 80% of NYC crime guns come from out of state.

1.   Increase funding for new Gun Interdiction program for District Attorneys. Add funds to the $500,000 level proposed by Governor Pataki for District Attorneys to prosecute gun traffickers in Gun Interdiction cases. (Part of Chapter 189 of the Laws of 2000)

2.   Support the “Special Weapons Interdiction Field Team (SWIFT)”. A $1 million initiative within the Division of State Police designed to stop illegal guns in the “source states” before they enter New York State.

3.   Increase the number of prosecutions of gun traffickers. Lower the number of guns constituting the criminal sale of firearms, thereby making it easier to prosecute gun traffickers. (A.1211 – Koon, S.1139 - Alesi)  

B.        DEVOTE RESOURCES TO FIREARM PREVENTION MODELS

4.   Develop a pilot firearm injury surveillance tracking system.  Create a system to identify communities that are at risk for homicides, suicides and accidental shootings, while developing prevention strategies. (S.769 – Dollinger)

C.     STRENGTHEN THE STATE LICENSING SYSTEM

5.   Pass a comprehensive licensing package for handguns, rifles and shotguns.

•            Establish a clearly defined mechanism for firearm license suspension/revocation under certain circumstances (e.g., orders of protection, specific misdemeanors, driving while intoxicated and improper gun storage).  

•            Prohibit convicted violent felons with good conduct certificates or relief from disabilities from obtaining a firearm license or lawful possession of a rifle or shotgun (A.315 – Kaufman)  

•            Require license renewal statewide every 5 years (A.7884 – Paulin)  

•            Require safety training course to be completed prior to issuance of a license to possess (A.231 – Grannis)

D.    REQUIRE THAT GUNS IN THE HOME BE SAFELY STORED

6.      Enact a Safe Storage/Child Access Prevention law, holding gun owners responsible for safely storing their firearms (A.7885 – Paulin) (A.5363 – Weisenberg, S.728 - Goodman)

E.   TREAT GUNS AS A CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY ISSUE AND BAN THE MOST DANGEROUS TYPES OF WEAPONS.  Firearms are on the only consumer product not regulated by either federal or state consumer product laws.

7.       Improve the safety of handguns. Authorize the Superintendent of State Police to set standards for handguns sold, transferred or distributed in the State. (A.1202 – Koon).  The State Police can create these standards in conjunction with the “smart gun technology study” mandated by Chapter 189 - Laws of 2000.

8.      Require possession of a firearm license to purchase or possess ammunition. Criminalize the sale of ammunition to a person without a firearm license or possession of ammunition without a license for the weapon. (A.47 - Sanders.

9.      Ban 50 – Caliber sniper weapons. Prohibit the sale and ownership of 50 - Caliber sniper weapons, one of the most dangerous and deadly weapons in the U.S. Military’s arsenal. (A.1534 – Matusow, S.742 – Goodman)

F.      REQUIRE STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO PURCHASE GUNS ONLY FROM MANUFACTURERS THAT AGREE TO THE SMITH & WESSON CODE OF CONDUCT  

10.  The agreement requires gun manufacturers to design guns with the latest safety features, only sell to authorized dealers, train dealers and work towards ensuring that manufactured guns are sold legally.

  LEGISLATION THAT WE OPPOSE

  EASING RULES TO OBTAIN CARRY CONCEALED WEAPONS PERMITS

·         Lowering the threshold for individuals to obtain a carry concealed weapons permit from “may issue” to “shall issue”. (S.2302 – Volker, A.6366 - Bragman)

  CARRY PERMITS FROM OTHER COUNTIES VALID IN NYC

·        Repeal of the law requiring individuals to possess a special permit to bring guns into New York City. (A.6367 – Bragman)

PROLIFERATION OF PEACE OFFICER STATUS

·               The expansion of “peace officer status” for many individuals across the state. (A.346 – Kaufman)

  GUN MANUFACTURERS’ IMMUNITY

·      Proposals to immunize gun manufacturers from lawsuits. (A.7447 – Gunther, A.7448 – Magee, S.2458 – Seward)

EXCEPTIONS THAT ALLOW YOUNG PEOPLE TO POSSESS GUNS

·        Legislation that lowers the age for use of handguns and long guns by young people. (A.1884 – Parment, S.1293 - McGee) (A.1596 – Smith, S.2920 - Saland).  Legislation to reduce the hunting age from 16 to 14 for big game hunting (S.1148 & A.2000).

AUTHORIZING ONLY ONE TYPE OF GUN SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAM AND ONE THAT HAS NOT BEEN EVALUATED (S.2119 – Maziarz, A.7716 - Gunther)