New York is set to become the first state to enact tighter gun legislation in the wake of devastating back-to-back shootings.
The State Legislature passed a bill to ‘micro stamp’ semiautomatic pistols, allowing police to solve crimes by linking bullet cases to guns.
The minimum age to buy a semiautomatic rifle is also set to rise to 21 as part of a broad package on gun reform.
New buyers of such weapons will have to now obtain a permit - meaning a background check and safety course will also have to be undertaken.
The new laws also ban the majority of civilians from purchasing bullet-proof body vests, according to The New York Times.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and state Democratic lawmakers have announced a package of gun control measures that would mandate New Yorkers be licensed to purchase a semi-automatic rifle and move the minimum age of purchase from 18 to 21.
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 1, 2022
The Democratic lawmakers plunged into debate on Thursday (June 2) to discuss gun laws, abortion protections, and to bolster voting rights.
The lawmakers debate in New York contrasts with the conservative shift in other states and the Supreme Court.
The legislation comes as Republican-controlled states have remained steadfast in their refusal to tighten gun laws.
In Liberal states such as New Jersey, Democrats are urging lawmakers to also raise the purchase age of rifles to 21. In California, there is now a push to progress gun control legislation.
Assemblywoman Linda B. Rosenthal, a Democrat from Manhattan, spoke to The New York Times of the urgency to enact tighter laws.
She said: “It’s clear that in the federal level, they’re in a state of paralysis.
“But there is still more to be done to ensure against every outlandish idea that every other state might have.”
New York already has some of the most restrictive laws in the United States, already banning military-style assault rifles.
The tighter gun reform comes in the wake of shootings in Buffalo, Uvalde, and Tusla where 35 people have been killed in the three shootings.
Microstamping will be required on all semiautomatic pistols sold in New York — making it easier to track down perpetrators of crimes.
— Governor Kathy Hochul (@GovKathyHochul) May 31, 2022
On May 14, in Buffalo, New York, an 18-year-old gunman allegedly opened fire at a supermarket killing 10 black people. He now faces 25 charges including a domestic terrorism charge.
A manifesto citing racist ideologies, and white nationalist conspiracies were found in a manifesto allegedly by the gunman, according to AP.
In Uvalde, Texas, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos stormed Robb Elementary School and opened fire, killing 19 students and two teachers on 24 May.
Before his attack, Ramos uploaded a series of pictures of his two AR15-style rifles on Instagram.
On Wednesday (June 1), four people were killed at St Francis Hospital in Tusla. Oklahoma when a gunman armed with a rifle walked into the hospital.
Three tragic shootings in less than three weeks have led to major discussion and debate about gun reform across the United States.
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