BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) Governor Kathy Hochul and Democratic lawmakers have agreed on a package of new gun laws, including new restrictions on semi-automatic rifles in the wake of tragic shootings in Buffalo and Texas. "We're acting with tremendous urgency," Governor Kathy Hochul told Fox 5 in New York City Wednesday morning.
Lawmakers will spend Wednesday and Thursday passing the bills, before the legislative session ends June 2.
Among measures being put before lawmakers, a bill that would require licenses for semiautomatic rifles going forward, raising the age at which people can buy those weapons from 18 to 21.
Lawmakers are also set to expand situations in which "Red Flag" laws can be applied, which require guns be kept away from people deemed to be a danger to themselves or others.
Another bill would ban the sale of body armor to people outside law enforcement or other state-designated professions.
"A number of these initiatives we had already proposed, before the massacre in my hometown of Buffalo and the mass killing of children in Texas," said Governor Hochul. "The legislature and I have ben working tirelessly and we're going to have a package that people will be proud of. It's going to close some of the loopholes and say that 18 year olds who cannot buy a beer at the local bar, should not be able to buy an assault weapon. We're going to change that immediately as well as a lot of other protections."
Hochul has changed her stance on gun laws since being endorsed by the NRA when she won a special election to fill the congressional vacancy of Chris Lee who resigned from the 26th congressional district in 2011.
"That was a decade ago," said Hochul on Fox 5. "I grew up in an area where gun ownership was common. People joined the NRA to be eligible for discounts and to go to shooting ranges. But Sandy Hook happened. At that point, when Washington could not agree on background checks to find out if someone had a mental challenge, I said it's over."
Hochul said since she became governor, even before the massacres, she has been laser focused on changing the gun laws, banning ghost guns and supporting sensible gun legislation. "My record speaks for itself," she added.
"It's a bunch of empty measure in my opinion," said State Senator George Borrello (R-Chautauqua County). "It's a feeble attempt in my opinion to maintain one party rule."
"The democrats are nibbling around the edges, instead of going after the root causes," said Borrello, who said he has a 3-point plan.
*1 - repeal bail reform
*2 - strengthen mental health laws
*3 - place an armed School Resource Officer in every school in the state
On the mental health point, Borrello said it essentially would take Kendra's Law and strengthen it. "It would give law enforcement and mental health professionals the ability to hold someone for a longer period of time to make sure they are not a threat to themselves or society. We don't have that ability right now," He said. "That's why our streets have turned into mental health hospitals. We just don't have the ability to hold people long enough. And we don't have the facilities to keep people who need treatment."
Borrello does not support raising the age to purchase a semi automatic rifle from 18 to 21. "Look at who's committing crimes right now. Fifteen and sixteen year olds are committing crimes with guns and thanks to raise the age, they're not being tried as an adult. Instead, they're being sent to family court. At age 18, you're not keeping semi automatic weapons out of the hands of young people. You're emboldening
