Report: Gov. Cuomo Could Try To Enact Gun Reform Next Week
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - In the wake of the Newtown massacre, there are reports that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo is negotiating new gun laws that could be voted on within days.
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A Daily News report says lawmakers have been told to be available in the days after Christmas, though it says it's more likely that gun reform would be announced in the governor's State of the State speech in January.
Democratic state lawmakers are demanding that Albany pass a package of bills designed to end the slaughter of innocent victims. They gathered on the steps of City Hall in Manhattan on Thursday.
"The horror of witnessing these 26 innocent lives is seared in our collective consciousness, but we know that everyday children are being murdered by gun fire on the streets of New York and across America," Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel said.
The bills call for tighter controls over assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition, microstamping of shell casings and universal background checks for all gun purchasers, 1010 WINS' Stan Brooks reported.
"[Right now,] the Bushmaster gun that was used in Connecticut would be legal in much of the state. We're calling for a tighter ban and we are calling for that ban not to grandfather in existing guns that are in people's possession now," Kavanagh told WCBS 880's Rich Lamb. "If they are banned, they are banned."
Advocates of that measure say they would expect law abiding gun owners to turn in their weapons.
New York State's definition of an assault weapon could be expanded to any firearm holding more than seven bullets.
St. Sen. Michael Gianaris says the time to act is now.
"The NRA has deep claws and we have seen resistance from the right wing, especially the Senate Republicans who have blocked progress on this. Hopefully we won't pause any longer after this latest horrific act in Connecticut," he told WCBS 880 reporter Paul Murnane Thursday morning.
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Gianaris wants a system of background checks for gun shows and other private sales.
"Our assault weapons ban here in New York is riddled with loopholes. We do not have background checks on private gun sales," he said. "There's no shortage of proposals that could improve our laws because obviously they're not strong enough."
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In addition to all of that, a gun show on the calendar for March at the Crowne Plaza near Suffern is the latest event reportedly canceled.
Do you think that New York State's gun laws should be expanded? Sound off below.
