Gov. Hochul unveils plan to combat domestic terrorism and gun violence

Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday that she is proposing a comprehensive plan to combat domestic terrorism, strengthen gun laws and investigate social media platforms.

News 12 Staff

May 18, 2022, 5:10 PM

Updated 939 days ago

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Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday that she is proposing a comprehensive plan to combat domestic terrorism, strengthen gun laws and investigate social media platforms.
The announcement comes in the wake of the racist mass shooting in Buffalo that claimed 10 lives.
Hochul said she is issuing a referral to Attorney General Letitia James to investigate social media platforms that carried the livestream of the attack. Those platforms include Twitch, 4chan, 8chan and Discord.
The governor also announced a push to strengthen the red flag law, saying New York State Police will be required to file for an extreme risk protection order if they believe an individual is a threat.
Hochul called on the state Legislature to pass legislation that would require police to report crime guns within 24 hours and require microstamping on semiautomatic pistols sold in New York. 
She also wants legislation to address the AOW loophole. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives defines an AOW, or "any other weapon," as "a weapon or device capable of being concealed on the person from which a shot can be discharged."