In response to the Supreme Court decision in the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen case, lawmakers returned to Albany last week to act on new gun regulations and abortion rights during an extraordinary session.
State Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R-PulaskI) told Capital Tonight that both sides have concerns about gun violence, but adds “continuing to add challenges to legal gun owners, for them to legally carry guns, is not the solution and that’s not gonna solve any of the gun violence that we have.”
In last week’s extraordinary session, lawmakers passed new regulations that limit where people can conceal carry a gun, requires background checks for ammunition purchases and updates gun storage laws. Barclay said the new regulations could make it even harder than before the Bruen decision to get a firearm permit in New York.
Lawmakers also gave first passage to an amendment to the state constitution that would codify the Roe v. Wade into the document. The amendment must pass in the next legislative session and be approved by voters before it is officially added. Barclay said he expects legal challenges to the reforms and the amendment.
Barclay also has concerns about the transparency behind the crafting of these pieces of legislation. Barclay said he would like to see reforms to the Assembly committee process to allow more public input on legislation.