This is an historic day.
The public safety of the citizens of New York was the priority. I stood with the Governor and both houses of the state legislature in passing the strongest, most comprehensive gun-safety legislation in our state’s history.
The plan includes a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines, enacts universal background checks, increases penalties for illegal gun possession and ensures that persons with a mental illness who are a danger to themselves or others do not have access to firearms.
We are the first state in the nation, in the aftermath of the tragedies of Newton and Webster, to enact gun control legislation.
Make no mistake about it, the number of gun deaths in New York will decrease because of the bold, bi-partisan action taken by the legislature today.
Now it is up to other states and the federal government to follow New York’s lead.
Michelle Schimel is the New York State Assembly representative for the 16th Assembly District. She was first elected in a Special Election held on March 27, 2007.
