Governor Kathy Hochul has signed a set of gun regulations aimed at curbing illegal firearm modifications and increasing safety awareness. The new laws target “pistol converters,” attachments that allow handguns to fire rapidly, almost like automatic weapons, adding these devices to the state’s penal code to crack down on their use. The regulations also mandate that firearm dealers post warnings about the dangers guns pose, similar to warnings found on tobacco products.
Additional measures include statewide tracking of Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) and allowing police agencies, not just individual officers, to file them. Stricter oversight of credit card transactions at retailers primarily selling firearms and ammunition is also required, along with public awareness campaigns about safe firearm storage and child access prevention.
Governor Hochul highlighted the progress made under her leadership, noting a 47% reduction in gun violence and the seizure of over 7,700 illegal firearms statewide since the start of the year. Despite previous legal challenges to New York’s gun laws, Hochul expressed confidence in the new measures.
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