The New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act of 2013, better known as the NY Safe Act, contains several regulations, including a requirement for background checks around the state regardless of the type of gun being purchased, and restrictions on assault weapons, which the law redefined broadly.

The Red Flag law, also called an Extreme Risk Order of Protection, passed in New York state in 2019. It prevents individuals who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing firearms. It empowers a teacher, school administrator or family member to seek civil court intervention, in which the subject of the court order can have his or her access to guns restricted for one year.

These are just two of many gun-control laws the state has passed during Andrew Cuomo’s tenure as governor.

According to Brian Kavanagh, the Senate sponsor of the state’s Extreme Risk Order of Protection, as well as other gun control laws, there is evidence that New York’s tightly controlled gun market keeps New Yorkers safe.

“New York, as of the end of 2019, the last year for which complete data was available, had the second lowest rate of gun-related death in the U.S.,” he said. “That is the result of a variety of factors, but one of them is our stronger gun laws. And studies in various places also show that states with strong gun laws have a lower rate of gun-related death.”

But, Kavanagh said, the uptick in violence is still a concern. 

One avenue that New York could explore is collaborating with other states and the federal government.

“The Biden administration has also said, the president has said, he wants to work with states to address gun trafficking,” Kavanagh commented.

Governor Cuomo declared a state of emergency around gun violence earlier this summer.