The Lower East Side’s new state senator, Brian Kavanagh, is helping to lead a coalition in Albany in support of new gun control laws.
Two weeks after the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, the lawmakers unveiled a package of 12 bills. The various pieces of legislation championed by New York Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention would strengthen background checks, close loopholes for out-of-state gun permit holders, prevent those convicted of certain domestic violence offenses from buying guns, among other measures.
Kavanagh was elected this past November to serve as state senator in the 26th Senate District, including Lower Manhattan and sections of the Brooklyn waterfront. He’s chair of the gun control coalition. Kavanagh is sponsoring three of the bills, including a measure that would establish a new court-issued order of protection barring anyone from acquiring a gun if they are found likely to harm themselves or others.
“Even if the gun industry lobby and its allies in Washington continue to block federal progress on this issue as they have for so long,” said Kavanagh “I believe that New York lawmakers can and will step up. The Parkland students are calling for change, and here in New York we’re answering their call.”
In 2013, the State legislature enacted the Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement ACT. As the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday, Senate Republicans are likely to oppose new gun control legislation, focusing instead on beefed up school security. Gov. Cuomo has been non-committal on the new proposals.
