Law against carrying weapons in public in New York, in force by September

The new law that restricts the use of weapons in public spaces in New York and which includes the popular Times Square area, will take effect on September 1 after it was signed by Governor Kathy Hochul, shortly after being approved by the state legislature on Friday.

New York’s action is in response to the United States Supreme Court’s decision last week that upheld allowing guns to be carried in public across the country.

The legislature also voted in favor of raising the right to abortion in the state Constitution, but the measure has to be submitted to a referendum twice, coinciding with the next two legislative appointments, the first of them next November.

This measure to amend the state Constitution, proposed by Hochul, was in response to the decision of the Supreme Court, the highest judicial forum in the country, which repealed the right to abortion, in force since 1973.

After two days of extensive and intense debate in a special session called by the governor, the state legislature, with a Democratic majority, approved a package of measures on Friday to restrict the use of weapons in public spaces, which includes places where children gather, the subway, health centers, universities and colleges, theaters, parks and stadiums.

Also zoos, nursing homes, domestic violence shelters, houses of worship, private property such as bars, restaurants, or residences, unless the property owner expressly allows firearms with a sign.

The legislation also imposes new conditions for obtaining a firearm permit, including a requirement for 16 hours of gun handling training and two hours of training at a shooting range.

It establishes new requirements for the storage of the weapon in homes and vehicles and penalties of up to four years in prison for violating the measures.

In addition, an appeal board will be created for those applicants whose license or renewal is denied or revoked, which will take effect on April 1 of 2023.

The Supreme Court’s decision stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Robert Nash and Brandon Koch, and the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, an affiliate of the National Rifle Association.

The indictment sued this state for prohibiting the carrying of firearms in public, even though it allows its residents to carry them concealed in the street with a special authorization if they claim a specific need for self-defense.