By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
As some of the establishment press misrepresented new gun control legislation in New York, Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a series of bills described in various reports as “gun safety” measures, during a media event Wednesday.
More than one news outlet—including the Finger Lakes Daily—went against the current by referring to the legislation as “gun control” in its headline.
Likewise, the Norwood News called the measures “gun control” in its headline.
But CBS News was not quite so honest when it headlined its report, “Former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords joins New York Gov. Kathy Hochul for the signing of new gun safety laws.”
Likewise, Spectrum headlined its coverage, “Focusing on gun owner education, Hochul signs package of gun safety measures into law.”
So, what are these new laws?
The Finger Lakes Daily went bill-by-bill reporting details on each bill.
Sure to raise hackles among gun owners is S8479A/A9862A, “requires credit and debit card issuers to use the firearms and ammunition retailers merchant category code (MCC) created by the International Organization for Standardization in 2022 for businesses whose highest sales value is from the combined sale of firearms, firearms accessories, or ammunition, and it empowers the State Attorney General to bring an enforcement action for any violation that is not cured within 30 days, which can result in fines up to $10,000 for noncompliance,” according to a release from Hochul’s office. “New York becomes the third state, joining California and Colorado, to enact this requirement.”
A7717B/S8589A authorizes law enforcement agencies to petition for an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO), commonly known as a “red flag law.”
Associated with this, Legislation S3340/A5873 requires courts “to notify the statewide registry of orders of protection and warrants when a temporary and/or final extreme risk protection order (ERPO) is issued,” the newspaper said.
A fourth measure, S6649/A2882, might be “safety” oriented because it requires gun dealers and gunsmiths to post warnings on their premises warning about the alleged increased risk of suicide or domestic violence homicide, or accidental death for children with guns in the house.
Hochul also signed S7365B/A10053A, which, according to a brief description at the New York State Senate website, “Requires reasonable controls and procedures to be taken to prevent the installation and use of a pistol converter.”
Lastly, S9760/A10356A, according to a release from Hochul’s office, “requires a firearms licensing officer, upon the issuance of a license, to provide information about statewide resources related to safe storage of firearms, child access preventionand firearm violence prevention, as well as information on specific county and local laws and regulations related to child access prevention and safe storage of firearms. The legislation also requires the State to develop and implement a public awareness campaign regarding safe storage and child access prevention, requires those materials to be provided in digital format and available online, and mandates they be updated annually.”
According to Spectrum, former Congresswoman-turned-gun-control advocate Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords, attended Hochul’s bill signing. In a statement, Giffords declared, “New York continues to lead the nation with some of the strongest gun laws in the country.”
