Months before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that New York’s gun-carrying law was unconstitutional, Governor Kathy Hochul and state lawmakers had begun discussing how to control the proliferation of firearms.
Meetings began late last year and continued into the spring with the court’s decision looming. By the time Judge Clarence Thomas’s opinion was published last week, Ms Hochul and the leaders in both houses had been primed with ideas such as placing a wide variety of “sensitive places” outside the limits, making the permitting process more difficult and hurdle to permit was raised. innovations.
“We have a plan that is legally in order,” Ms Hochul said Friday. “Now we are talking to the leaders and our partners in the Assembly and Senate to come up with what we believe will be very strong legislation.”
This week, Ms. Hochul will push for the bill to be passed. She said Monday she planned to work on the measure overnight, discuss its outline with legislative leaders Tuesday and approve it in a special session Thursday.
Members of Ms. Hochul’s administration have coordinated with the team of New Jersey Governor Philip D. Murphy, one of five other states affected by the sweeping Supreme Court ruling, calling the largest expansion of gun rights in more than a decade. marks. All those states—including California, Maryland, Massachusetts and Hawaii—will almost certainly rewrite laws in response, and New York and New Jersey legislation could serve as a model.
Such proposals will need to be aligned with the Supreme Court ruling, authored by Justice Clarence Thomas, which demanded that any new regulation build on the historic tradition of the United States. Judge Thomas wrote that lawmakers can reason by analogy when confronted, for example, with the existence of subways or modern sports arenas.
Judge Thomas said it was allowed to place sensitive places outside the limits and gave examples, but warned that “extending the category of ‘sensitive places’ simply to all places of public gathering that are not isolated from law enforcement” is a was too broad a concept. definition.
The ideas at play in New York are outlined in statements from both governors, a briefing paper that circulated among lawmakers in the early months of the year, and information from four people with knowledge of the discussions, all of whom spoke anonymously as negotiations are still ongoing.
Ms. Hochul has proposed banning guns from schools, places of worship and events attended by a certain number of people. She has also said the state would ban guns from corporations by default, with exceptions for those who confirm they want guns on their property. And she said training and storage requirements could also be on the table for those seeking permits.
In addition to the sensitive places Ms. Hochul mentioned, New York is considering designating all places where alcohol is served (such as bars, major sporting events) and where children spend time (such as nurseries, playgrounds, and nurseries). Other places considered “sensitive” include college campuses, hospitals, and casinos.
The state may also be able to restrict the carrying of weapons outside such places, according to one of those aware of the discussions, although it will have to be careful not to restrict large areas of densely populated areas, which would probably conflict with the statement.
In addition, New York is considering asking more questions about applicants’ personal histories to ensure those who have harmed others or engaged in other questionable behavior can be barred from carrying guns. But some lawmakers are concerned that those restrictions, if not carefully written, could perpetuate discrimination in gun permitting.
Few in New York or New Jersey have the illusion that new laws will completely stop a wave of gun purchases. And officials have expressed stark certainty about what is likely to come.
“More access to guns equals more gun deaths,” said William J. Castner, an attorney and adviser to Murphy on firearms issues.
The prospect of new legislation has not dampened the enthusiasm of would-be gun owners. Korina Favatis, 51, a resident of the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, had already considered buying a gun but was persuaded to do so by the Supreme Court ruling.
“Why can’t I have one for protection if I feel terrorized all the time?” she said.
Ms. Favatis was not concerned about the possibility that new laws could mitigate the effects of the Supreme Court decision.
“I don’t think they can really do much,” she said.
Assembly lady Amy Paulin, of Westchester, is among those looking to test that claim, pushing leaders to introduce changes that she hopes will help address dangerous situations involving those already licensed, including domestic violence. to be. Rather than a perfunctory recertification every few years, which is the rule in most of the state, Ms. Paulin wants gun owners to go through a more onerous renewal process, which could include a professional mental health assessment.
“The weapons used for some of the mass shootings were legally purchased,” Ms Paulin noted. “If you just have to say you’re mentally fit,” she added, “it’s not good enough to have someone carry that gun in front of my house.”
Similar strategies are being considered in New Jersey. Murphy said Friday he had ordered all departments and agencies to review their authority to “prevent gun violence,” including designating certain places “gun-free” and evaluating the tools available to regulate how firearms are carried and transported.
He said he would also propose legislation to expand places where guns have been banned. That includes high-density areas — stadiums, amusement parks, bars and restaurants — and places that serve vulnerable populations, such as daycare centers and hospitals.
As in New York, he said, the legislation would create a standard rule that guns should not be carried on private property unless the owner expressly authorizes it — “whether that’s a mall or a grocery store or a private residence or a house of worship.” .”
The state’s acting attorney general, Matthew J. Platkin, also said gun owners may need to take out insurance to carry a gun in public.
“It’s something that’s been discussed,” Mr. Platkin said at a news conference in Trenton, NJ Friday. “I’ll postpone the legislative process. But, you know, like with cars, it’s a similar concept.”
Colonel Patrick J. Callahan, the state police inspector who issues gun licenses, said he and Mr. Platkin met with all 21 county prosecutors and a second with 400 law enforcement officers early Friday “to discuss this ruling and its impact.” in New Jersey.”
He said the state expected to get about 200,000 new applications for concealed carry permits. One area of concern, he said, is a possible increase in gun violence among drivers, something he described as a young trooper.
“The fact that a gun was involved is what changes people’s behavior and drives them to do things and do things — willing to take someone’s life instead of being cut off on Route 78, which, like everyone else know, happens about every three minutes in our state. ‘ said Colonel Callahan.
Nicholas Fandos† Troy Closson and Chelsea Rose Marcius reporting contributed.