The list of places New Yorkers can’t carry a concealed handgun has grown, explains firearms expert Mike Centola.
“Any public transportation facilities, any establishment for on-premise consumption of alcohol or cannabis,” Centola said. “Any performance art venues, gaming and sporting events.”
Firearms expert weighs in on state’s gun safety laws (video)
Centola is president of Allstar Tactical. It’s a retail gun store and manufacturer where they sell firearms, accessories, handguns and long guns in the Rochester and Finger Lakes area.
He’s digesting the new concealed carry laws that went into effect last week.
Governor Hochul says new laws necessary
Those laws were passed in response to what Governor Kathy Hochul calls a “reckless” Supreme Court decision.
That decision was to strike down an existing law which required people seeking a license to carry a handgun in public to provide proper cause.
Hochul’s office explains new requirements for those looking to get a concealed carry pistol permit include in-person interviews, social media reviews and more.
“They also will undergo a 16-hour classroom training and a two-hour live firearm safety training course,” Hochul said. “And we will be the first state to require training for firearms permits but it makes sense. Under the old laws, some counties required but many did not. So it’s time to standardize this across the state of New York.”
Local gun store owner says laws could hurt business
But Centola says the state has gone too far.
“They’re just making it as hard as possible for us to do business and for people to be able to exercise their second amendment rights,” Centola said.
He says his business could suffer.
“In December we’re required to have two years of storage on our cameras here,” Centola said. “So our ten cameras we have here, New York State wants us to maintain two years worth of back storage. Right now we maintain about 30-40 days worth of storage. We’re talking probably a $12-15 thousand investment just to carry two years worth.”
Gun shops must now provide sales records
And it doesn’t stop there. Centola says his team has to start taking records for ammunition purchases. And some time next year, they’ll have to do background checks on anyone buying ammunition.
“Not to mention that starting December, twice a year, we have to supply our acquisition and disposition records to the state police which essentially is a registry,” Centola said. “So it means every gun transferred in and out of here will get sent to Albany in order for them to keep some sort of record of all the transactions at gun stores around the state.”
Rebecca is a veteran multimedia journalist serving as one of our core reporters in the Finger Lakes region. She is responsible for telling stories that matter to every day Upstate New Yorkers. Have a question or lead? Send it to [email protected].