People convicted of serious misdemeanor crimes in other states should not be allowed to receive a gun license in New York, Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed on Sunday as he began to roll out his 2020 agenda.
The proposal would cover people convicted of misdemeanors in other states that are deemed to be “serious offenses” like domestic violence, forcible torching and other sex offenses.
“This year, I propose a new law to prevent anyone who commits a serious crime in another state from buying or possessing a gun in New York,” Cuomo said. “This new law will keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people and save lives. I’m proud that New York continues to show the country that we don’t have to live like this – that we can and will end gun violence.”
The proposal would authorize licensing entities to search for such crimes and deny licenses for those with out-of-state offenses the that apply. It would also prevent renewal of a license if an intervening conviction occurs.
In rolling out his first proposal of the coming year, Cuomo is returning to a key issue for him since the passage of the SAFE Act, a package of gun control measures approved in early 2013. Saturday was the seventh anniversary of the shooting massacre at an elementary school in Connecticut that led to the passage of the measure.
“Gun violence in this country is a crisis. The cause is clear: spineless politicians in Washington who refuse to stand up to the NRA and pass common sense reforms,” Cuomo said. “The solution is also clear: New York’s strongest-in-the-nation gun laws which have made us the safest big state in the country. But until the federal government acts, states with weak gun laws will continue to endanger New Yorkers at home, and I will not tolerate it.”
Earlier this year, Democrats controlling both chambers of the Legislature approved measures that extend the background check period, a ban on bump stocks, a ban on guns undetectable to metal detectors, an expansion of safe storage requirements and a measure barring the arming of school teachers, among others. All were signed into law by Cuomo.
Cuomo’s 2020 State of the State address will be given January 8 in Albany.