New York: A week after the U.S Supreme Court made it easier for the people to carry handguns in public, the New York State Legislature passed a number of gun restrictions Friday, banning firearms in many public places.
New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a new gun control bill Friday. The new firearm law will take effect on September 1, as per reports.
The law bars people from carrying concealed firearms in sensitive places including Times Square and public transit.
Prohibition of concealed firearms will also apply in educational institutions including schools, universities, besides government buildings, public protest venues, healthcare facilities, places of worship, libraries, playgrounds, parks, bars, theatres, stadiums, museums, polling places and casinos, as per reports.
The measure is expected to face legal challenges from gun rights advocates.
People applying for a license to carry a handgun will also have to go through a very clear set of eligibility criteria and they will have to provide four character references, take 16 hours of firearms safety training plus two hours of practice at a range, undergo periodic background checks and turn over contact information for their spouse, domestic partner or any other adults living in their household.
Applicants will have to turn over a list of social media accounts they have had in the past three years.
“Sometimes, they’re telegraphing their intent to cause harm to others,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said at a news conference.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, New Yorkers’ constitutional freedoms were just trampled on by Kathy Hochul and her pawns in the legislature,” said Nick Langworthy, chair of the GOP State Committee. “Only under the insanity of New York Democrats can you get out of jail free for possessing an illegal firearm, but be targeted by the government for being a law-abiding citizen exercising your constitutional rights.”
Fox News reported that Friday’s bill altered a recently passed law that banned the sale of certain bulletproof vests, although that legislation had failed to cover the type of protection worn by the 18-year-old gunman who fatally shot 10 people at a supermarket in Buffalo in May,
New Yorkers came up with a mixed reaction over the fresh legislations. Some supported the move while others expressed their anger.
A social media account holder – tb319 posted comment over the news that appeared on Fox News which said: “I think the bigger point is that it makes it much more burdensome for the legal gun purchase. Most crimes are committed using guns purchased illegally. This law will do nothing to reduce crimes committed where guns are involved.
This post was originally published on VOSA.