Kathy Hochul on Gun Control
TL;DR
Kathy Hochul strongly advocates for implementing and strengthening comprehensive gun safety laws across New York State and nationally.
Key Points
She signed a comprehensive legislative package that, among other things, bans body armor sales outside of specified professions and raises the age for semiautomatic rifle purchases to 21.
The Governor urged Congress to pass a national ban on MSRs, arguing that New York's strong state laws are undermined by the ease of obtaining such weapons in other states.
Hochul has also pushed for closing loopholes, such as expanding who can file for Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs) and requiring microstamping for new semiautomatic pistols.
Summary
Governor Kathy Hochul is a strong advocate for stringent gun control measures, asserting that "thoughts and prayers won't fix this, but taking strong action will." Her core position involves enacting significant legislative packages to close perceived loopholes in existing state law, often in response to mass casualty events like those in Buffalo and Uvalde. Key actions include signing bills that raise the minimum age to purchase semiautomatic rifles to 21, banning the sale of body armor to most civilians, and expanding the state's Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law to allow more individuals to petition for temporary firearm removal.
The implications of her stance involve both state-level enforcement and calls for federal intervention, as she frequently notes that New York's strong laws are insufficient when firearms can be obtained in states with lax regulations. She has publicly demanded Congress pass a national ban on MSRs, sometimes termed "assault weapons." This drive for tighter restrictions continues to place her at odds with gun rights organizations that view her actions as an attack on law-abiding gun owners and the Second Amendment.
Key Quotes
"New York has some of the strongest gun laws in the nation. We banned assault weapons. We strengthened our Red Flag Law. We closed dangerous loopholes. But our laws only go so far when an AR-15 can be obtained in a state with weak gun laws and brought into New York to commit mass murder"
Frequently Asked Questions
Governor Kathy Hochul is a proponent of significantly stricter gun control measures, viewing gun violence as an epidemic requiring robust legislative action. She has repeatedly signed extensive bills in New York to strengthen existing laws and close perceived loopholes. Her position is characterized by aggressive state-level action and a demand for similar federal reform.
Hochul signed a landmark package of legislation aimed at strengthening gun laws following tragedies in Buffalo and Uvalde. This package included measures to ban body armor sales to the general public and require a license to purchase semiautomatic rifles, effectively raising the age requirement for those specific firearms. She also strengthened the state's Red Flag Law.
Her public record suggests a consistent and escalating commitment to stricter gun safety laws since assuming office. Following high-profile shootings, the Governor has consistently responded by pushing for and signing increasingly comprehensive legislation, indicating a steady, strong pro-regulation stance rather than an evolution of principle.
Sources6
Governor Hochul Signs Landmark Legislative Package to Strengthen Gun Laws and Protect New Yorkers
Gov. Hochul Demands National MSR Ban • NSSF
New York: Gov. Kathy Hochul Continues Attack On Gun Owners
New York's strong gun laws didn't prevent Monday's mass shooting. Local leaders are looking at the feds
Gov. Kathy Hochul to propose closing loopholes in New York's gun laws | NYSenate.gov
I led New York in passing some of the strongest gun safety laws in the nation—and
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.