Family Life

01.16.13 | Sarah Harnisch

New York has become the first state in the nation to put stricter gun laws in place. The Senate passed it at 11 p.m. Monday night, the Assembly Tuesday afternoon, and Governor Andrew Cuomo signed it into law Tuesday night.

Here is what you need to know:

1) Automatic or semi-automatic rifles, shotguns or pistols with any military style feature, such as a flash suppressor, pistol grip, or bayonette mount, are now illegal in New York. You are required to register them with the state, or sell them out of state within 1 year. All online sales of assault weapons are banned.

2) All weapons must be re-registered every five years.

3) Magazines are limited to 7 rounds, which has gun shops irritated, because they aren't sold in 7 round packs, only 10. If you use 10 rounds in a weapon at one time, you can be charged as a criminal.

4) Weapons that are banned will no longer be sold in New York.

5) The Webster provision: there will be a life-without-parole sentence for killing a first responder.

6) The state now has the authority to confiscate weapons from the mentally ill.

7) A registry will be set up, and anyone who purchases weapons will have their personal information logged into a state system. You can opt to have it accessible to only first responders and state officials.

8) Stolen guns must be reported within 24 hours. Otherwise, the owner could face a possible misdemeanor.

9) There are increased sentences for anyone who takes a gun on school property.

If you want to sign a petition to appeal parts of the law, go here.
If you want to hear a special feature with New York State Senator Kathy Marchione on gun control, go here.