A newly proposed bill by two Republican legislators from upstate New York seeks to grant judges with pistol permits the ability to carry firearms within courtrooms, emphasizing self-defense and protection of others.
The proposal comes as a countermeasure to the 2022 gun reforms, which designated courthouses as “sensitive locations” and hence prohibited the presence of firearms.
The bill’s sponsors, Sen. George Borello and Assemblyman Joseph Giglio, specifically underscore the disparity in security between rural and city courtrooms, contending that judges in less urbanized settings should have the means to defend themselves and court staff.
Although New York state court officers, as peace officers, are trained and permitted to carry firearms, external law enforcement is currently the only exception for carrying guns in courtrooms. The Office of Court Administration hasn’t yet commented on the Borello-Giglio legislation. For the bill to advance, it will need committee approval and a floor vote in both legislative chambers, where Democrats hold a significant majority.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].