Gov. Kathy Hochul signed new firearm legislation Wednesday in an effort to reduce injuries and deaths.
The measure expands gun storage safety rules and prevents individuals prohibited from owning guns from purchasing ammunition.
The law would require firearms to be locked in a storage container when not in use. It would also create stronger penalties for cases when minors and unlicensed individuals access unsecured guns.
Hochul’s office says it would strengthen background checks for ammunition purchases by aligning them with the requirements already in place for buying a firearm.
According to a press release, the law “clarifies that individuals prohibited by law from owning a rifle or shotgun or subject to a temporary or extreme risk protection order may not purchase ammunition.”
Hochul calls the legislation “one of the nation’s most advanced gun safety agendas.” She says it will help keep guns out of the wrong hands and improve safety across New York communities.