Photo courtesy of Collin Voss Target plinking, trap shooting, skeet shooting and hunting could all be affected with New York state gun laws ready to change.

The need for new gun laws in the United States is a complex and contentious issue. No matter where we travel in the country, we hear news of mass shooting incidents and suicide deaths by firearm. Both of these are alarming to most of us who work hard each day, share dinner with our families and often do not have time to dwell on the topic of gun laws.

Public opinion varies widely on this topic, with some advocating stricter gun control measures to reduce gun violence while others emphasize the importance of self-defense and Second Amendment rights. Ultimately, decisions on gun laws are not made by the people; they are made by elected officials at various levels of the government. Changes depend on the prevailing political climate and the will of the people. People elect legislators that reflect the values and needs of the people.

While it is an ongoing debate in the United States, Gov. Kathy Hochul is stepping boldly forward to implement new gun control laws starting next Wednesday. The old FBI-driven NICS background check system is out, and the brand new New York State Police background check system is in. ATF Form 4473 will be out. There is no need to fill that out. The State Police program will also include ammo purchases for new firearm control efforts, all using the NYS Police workforce. All NYS-based federally licensed firearm dealers in New York must convert to the new NYS Police background check system. The NYS-based FFL dealers will be disconnected from the ATF/FBI National Instant Crime Check System and must communicate only with the NYS Police for firearms and ammunition background checks.

Attorney Paloma Capanna represents the New York-based federally licensed dealers in firearms and shares her thoughts with comments and questions on the right thing to do to fight crime. Capanna says in an email to myself and others, “Tough on crime? This is the same confusion the governor dished out last summer through her 10-bill package. Has she not noticed those statutes are the focus of eight federal civil rights lawsuits filed by more than 100 plaintiffs, represented by more than a dozen private law firms from Washington, D.C., to Mississippi? Too afraid to go after the real criminals is more like it. She is bullying the law-abiding, federally licensed, NYS-licensed dealers in firearms, who are the front line against illegal gun sales. Because the industry doesn’t sell to those persons disqualified by federal law, those bad actors take to the streets to steal and then modify and mutilate guns to commit the same crimes that got them disqualified in the first place.”

Capanna adds, “Hochul is 180 degrees wrong in her approach. If she wanted to do something about crime in New York, she could start by transmitting records of NYS-convicted criminals to the FBI for the nationwide NICS database to help federal authorities keep guns out of the hands of career gun criminals. But, no, Hochul proudly stands at the public microphone and says she won’t turn over those records. No, the new law says, and the state admits, she wants to build a single database of gun owners in New York.”

For many everyday folks who hunt or shoot a firearm for recreation at trap, skeet or target ranges, it would seem that the governor is creating a system of great difficulty for the FFL dealers in NYS. It would seem (to me) that this is all part of a movement toward removing private citizen interest in firearms from the state. There will also be a new fee list: $9 for the background check and $2.50 when purchasing any ammo. Of course, all are subject to revision. The gun and ammo registry is part of the new database.

Capanna adds, “If the governor can shut down the FFL dealers in firearms, she can cut off Second Amendment rights. There are 1,791 FFL dealers in NYS.”

There are many more details and much more to say about this. It is, however, the new law in NYS starting next week. Will the NYS state police system be ready? If it is not prepared, will there be no new gun sales? Time will soon tell.

The Bill of Rights is in trouble here.

CALENDAR

Sept. 9-17: Special NYS antlerless-only deer hunting season for specified WMU units, including 9A and 9F.

Sept. 13: New NYS gun and ammo purchase system becomes NYS law.

Sept. 13: 3D Archery, Evans Rod & Gun, 864 Cain Rd., Angola, 4 p.m.-sunset, info: Jerry Gorski, 716-698-3008

Sept. 21: Southtowns Walleye Association, monthly meeting, 7 p.m., 5895 Southwestern Blvd., Hamburg.