On Wednesday New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul announced a new law that will heavily restrict where gun owners can bring their firearms in the state.
The upcoming law, which has already been negotiated with the legislator and is expected to pass this week, will make it a crime to enter any private business with a firearm unless the business has a sign on the door explicitly welcoming gun owners.
Gov. Hochul claimed the move will protect the interest of business owners, saying “We’re going to protect the rights of private property owners allow them to not have to be subjected to someone walking into their workplace or a bar, restaurant with a concealed weapon.”
Earlier this week the Supreme Court of the United States struck down New York infamous handgun licensing law, which made it exceptionally hard for New Yorkers to obtain unrestricted handgun licenses unless they worked in law enforcement or security.
Hochul attempted to defend her new anti-gun legislation this week. One reporter named Anne McCloy asked her if she knew the numbers of concealed carry permit holders who commit crimes, to which she responded, “I don’t need to have numbers. I don’t need to have a data point to say this. I know that I have a responsibility for this state to have sensible gun safety laws.”
The ban of weapons in private businesses is only one of many pieces of anti-gun legislation being considered in the state. These include:
- Banning guns in sensitive places like schools and polling places
- Expand the list of things that could stop someone from buying a handgun
- Expand the “safe storage” laws to mandate gun safes in cars as well as any house with someone under 18
- Require background checks to purchase ammunition for guns that require permits
The moves by the New York Governor fly in the face of the actions by the Supreme Court to open up the 2nd Amendment in the state. Do you think her new laws will stand if challenged or is she just fighting the inevitable?
