Governor Kathy Hochul announced that a new law (S.3340/A.5873) tightening safeguards under New York’s Red Flag Law is now in effect. Courts must notify the statewide registry of protection orders when issuing extreme risk orders. This ensures no orders are overlooked, a vital measure since nearly 14,000 protection orders have been issued since mid-2022.
The law follows Hochul’s push for stronger gun control after a racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo. In 2024 alone, authorities seized over 9,000 firearms, including 769 ghost guns.
Hochul’s $370 million FY26 budget proposal includes major investments in law enforcement, technology, and victim services aimed at further reducing gun violence.