New legislation strives to combat ghost guns in NYC
Rep. Ritchie Torres says the bill is an effort to get ghost guns off of the street while expanding gun-free school zones.
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A new legislation has been proposed against ghost guns, and named after a teen victim who was struck by gunfire from ghost guns.
The bill, called the Anghelly Yambo Gun Free Zone Expansion Act, is named in honor of 16-year-old Anghelly Yambo, who was caught in the crossfire near her school in April 2022.
Rep. Ritchie Torres says the bill is an effort to get ghost guns off of the street while expanding gun-free school zones. The legislation would also go further than current regulations, ultimately requiring manufacturers of ghost gun kits to be licensed under the Gun Control Act.
Yambo’s mother, Yanely Henriquez, says this new legislation in her daughter’s honor will bring change to the safety of New Yorkers.
"I wish things were different. At least I could say she didn’t die in vain, and at least she’s not just another kid that got shot in the Bronx,” said Henriquez. “I can honestly say with this new amendment, I feel we won’t lose another life. Another child will be safe from another gun that is killing innocent kids."
Manufacturers will not only be required to become licensed, but serial numbers will need to be included on the kits’ frames or receiver, and a background check will be run before a sale of a ghost gun kit.
According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the use of ghost guns in U.S. crimes has soared by over 1,000% since 2017. Torres says that if this legislation passes, New York City will be one step closer to getting ghost guns off of the streets.
