New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a sweeping package of new gun-related laws on Monday in the wake of the murder of 10 black people by 18-year-old, Payton Gendron, at a Buffalo supermarket on May 14.
Among the new measures, New Yorkers younger than 21 can no longer buy high-powered semiautomatic rifles, rules and regulations governing the state’s power to take the guns of people deemed dangerous were strengthened and social media companies will be required to put in place a system for reporting online threats.
‘In New York, we are taking bold, strong action. We’re tightening red flag laws to keep guns away from dangerous people,’ Hochul said at the signing ceremony.
Bulletproof vests and body armor will also be harder to purchase in the Empire State and making a threat of a mass shooting or bombing is now a crime in New York state, punishable by up to a year in jail.
The governor, a Democrat, signed the 10 gun-related bills into law, including legislation that requires microstamping for new firearms to help cops trace them during criminal investigations.
‘Gun violence is a disease that is tearing our nation apart, and it is now the number one killer of children in America,’ the governor said prior to the bill signings.
The state Legislature passed the bills last week before the end of their spring session.
The Buffalo gunman, Gendron, purchased two semi-automatic rifles and body armor months before he drove three hours to Topps Supermarket in Buffalo on May 14 to carry out his deadly attack.
He was able to survive a shootout with a security guard in the supermarket because he was wearing a Kevlar helmet and bulletproof vest. (DailyMail)