From: Thomas A Chandler, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (AP) - Gov. George Pataki on Wednesday signed into
law a sweeping gun-control bill that requires mandatory trigger locks,
ballistic ''fingerprinting'' to better track weapons and background
checks on gun buyers at gun shows in the state.
''This is something the rest of the nation should take a look at,''
Pataki said. ''I hope this serves as a model.''
With the new law, New York becomes the first state in the nation to deal
with a loophole in the federal Brady Law, which requires that gun sales
by federally licensed firearms deals must be accompanied by a background
check.
Sales at gun shows currently do not require such checks, however, unless
the firearms are sold by a federally licensed dealer.
The new state law closes the loophole, and violators will face a
misdemeanor charge and a fine of up to $10,000.
Pataki called the new law ''a commonsense measure'' to keep New York
safer by helping to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and children.
''Each year more New Yorkers are killed by guns than die in car
crashes,'' Pataki said at the bill-signing ceremony in Long Island.
The law's centerpiece, dubbed the ''Gun DNA'' program by the governor,
would require New York handgun dealers and manufacturers who sell to
dealers in the state to submit shell casings from the test firing of guns
in their inventories to the state police's forensic lab. Computerized
images of the casings would serve as ''fingerprints'' for firearms and be
kept on file.
Authorities would check the database against bullets and casings
recovered at scenes of gun violence to track the guns. The barrels of
+guns+ leave telltale markings on bullets and shell casings.
The law also raises the legal age for purchasing handguns in New York
state from 18 to 21, bans all assault weapons listed under a 1994 federal
law and makes it a Class D violent felony - punishable by up to seven
years in prison
- to possess or sell any banned assault weapon. In addition, all stolen
or lost guns must be reported to police within 24 hours of their
disappearance
Pataki stressed that the legislation is aimed at those engaged in illegal
activity and not those who own guns to protect their homes, families or
for hunting.
The Republican governor was joined at the news conference at the Garden
City railroad station by Democratic Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, a
strong advocate of stricter gun-control laws ever since her husband was
killed and her son critically wounded by a gunman who went on a shooting
rampage on a Long Island Rail Road train in 1992.
''New York has taken a courageous stand here,'' McCarthy said. ''Today
is a victory for not only the victims of crimes but for those who have
not been victims.''
''I plan to hold up Governor Pataki's bill on the floor of the House, and
say, 'Look what can be done if we work together,''' McCarthy said. ''The
time has come for gun-safety legislation on a national level and New York
has shown the way.''
The law is effective immediately.
Catherine Murphy, a New York City police officer whose 11-year-old son
was accidentally killed in 1997 by a friend playing with a gun, was
present to show her support of the bill.
''It's a great day for me,'' Murphy said. ''It means my son did not die
in vain.''
--
Hang on a minute, if more New Yorkers each year die from gunshots than
in car accidents, then surely that means gun laws don't work, as
New York has had a licensing system for handguns nearly as bad as
ours was since 1911.
Or is this too obvious?
I note that the law only seems to require casings to be submitted,
the original Bill included bullets. Given that legally owned handguns
are virtually never used in crime in New York, this is also a massive
white elephant.
Steve.
Cybershooters website: http://www.cybershooters.org
List admin: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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