NEW YORK — Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled the first proposal of the 2020 State of the State agenda on Sunday which aims to build on New York State's gun safety laws.
Currently, people are unable to get a gun license in New York State if they commit certain misdemeanors that are considered to be "serious offenses," but this only applies to people who have committed crimes in New York. Cuomo proposed a new law that would prohibit people from getting a gun license in New York if they committed a comparable misdemeanor in another state.
"Gun violence in this country is a crisis. The cause is clear: spineless politicians in Washington who refuse to stand up to the NRA and pass common sense reforms. The solution is also clear: New York's strongest-in-the-nation gun laws which have made us the safest big state in the country. But until the federal government acts, states with weak gun laws will continue to endanger New Yorkers at home, and I will not tolerate it," Governor Cuomo said.
"This year, I propose a new law to prevent anyone who commits a serious crime in another state from buying or possessing a gun in New York. This new law will keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people and save lives. I'm proud that New York continues to show the country that we don't have to live like this — that we can and will end gun violence," said Cuomo.
Under this law, licensing entities would also be able to search for these crimes when someone applies for a pistol permit. It will also prevent renewal if an intervening conviction occurs.