Senator Anna M. Kaplan Passes First Bill on Day of Significant Legislative Action to Combat Gun Violence in NY

ALBANY, NY (January 29, 2019) – New York State Senator Anna M. Kaplan passed her first piece of legislation today, S.2438, which closes a dangerous loophole in New York's firearm license background check process, and helped to pass several significant pieces of common sense gun control legislation to address the threat of gun violence in Long Island schools and communities

Senator Anna M. Kaplan said “My top priority as Senator is ensuring the safety of our schools and communities. That’s why I introduced legislation to close loopholes in the background check process for gun permit applications, and why I co-sponsored critical legislation like the “Red Flag” law, and the ban on bump stocks. These are all common sense reforms that New Yorkers want, and we’re acting right away to ensure our communities are safe from senseless gun violence.”

The full list of historic legislation passed by the Senate Majority today includes:

• Extreme Risk Protection Orders ("The Red Flag Law"): S.2451 introduced by Senator Brian Kavanagh, allows law enforcement officials, family and household members and certain school officials to seek a court order requiring a person likely to harm themselves or others to relinquish any firearms in their possession.
• Effective Background Check Act: S.2374 introduced by Deputy Majority Leader Michael Gianaris, establishes an extension of time up to thirty calendar days for national instate background checks.
• Bump Stock Ban: S.2448 introduced by Senator Luis Sepulveda, prohibits the possession of a device that accelerates the rate of fire of a firearm.
• Preventing School Districts from Arming Teachers: S.101A introduced by Senator Todd Kaminsky, prevents K-12 schools from authorizing anyone other than a security officer, school resource officer, or law enforcement officer to carry a firearm on school grounds.
• Gun Buy Backs: S.2449 introduced by Senator Shelley Mayer, directs the State Police to devise regulations for gun buyback programs so that all buyback programs across the state are operated consistently with uniform best practices.
• Out of State Mental Health Records: S.2438 introduced by Senator Anna M. Kaplan, will require out-of-state applicants for gun permits to allow New York permitting authorities to review out-of-state mental health records.

​Senator Kaplan concluded, "we don't need any more empty gestures, what we need are more tools to keep weapons out of the hands of those who wish harm on others, and these new measures will provide us with valuable tools to help make our communities safer.