TH A S M E S E B ST TE O N W A F E YO K R A A Y LB N

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jen Berkley Community Relations Coordinator 917-843-5669 jmbnewsgirl@yahoo.com Sweeping Gun Control Package of Legislation, the New York SAFE Act, Includes Crucial Aspects Championed By Queens Assemblyman David Weprin ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 15, 2013 Legislation championed by Assemblyman David Weprin (Queens District 24) in the weeks since the deadly Christmas Eve shooting on Dec. 24, 2012 in Webster, N.Y. by a convicted felon who illegally obtained firearms to commit this deadly act of violence, will become law as part of the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act, a comprehensive gun control package passed today in Albany. I am proud to be a part of this historic, pro-active, and comprehensive package of gun laws, dedicated to protecting all New Yorkers from senseless violence. Protecting our citizens is one of the most important parts of my job, said Assemblyman Weprin. This legislation will go a long way towards making all our cities and towns much safer. This is what our citizens want. We have acted with the publics best interests at heart. Assemblyman Weprins bill to increase criminal penalties for legal or illegal gun owners who knowingly allow their firearms to be used during the commission of a Class A or B felony, introduced just before the new year, has been incorporated into the gun control package. This means stiffer criminal penalties for firearm straw buyers whose weapons are later used to commit serious crimes in New York State. The law states that any facilitation involving the selling, exchanging, giving or disposing of a gun to an individual who is not authorized to possess such a firearm, which aids a person to commit a crime, is subject to criminal charges. This legislation sends a clear message to gun purchasers that they will be held responsible for what happens with the weapons they obtain, said Assemblyman Weprin. This closes loopholes that allow gun owners to assume no responsibility for their weapons. No more. Other highlights of the bill, which includes several items outlined by Governor Andrew Cuomo during last weeks State of the State address, includes a state-wide ban on assault weapons, notably including guns manufactured before 1994, new limits on firearm magazines to seven rounds from 10, the creation of real time universal background checks for all gun sales, and a two year extension of Kendras law through 2017. Assemblyman Weprin, a co-sponsor of the original Assembly bill to toughen Kendras law, supports this important strengthening of Kendras law, which empowers judges to order mentally ill patients to receive outpatient treatment. The new law will require mental health professionals to report to local mental

health officials when they believe that a patient is likely to harm themselves or others. Law enforcement would then be authorized to confiscate any firearm owned by the patient. I believe that part of the solution to gun violence is keeping dangerous weapons away from potentially dangerous people, said Assemblyman Weprin. It is a common sense response to protecting those who suffer from serious mental illnesses from harming themselves and others with a dangerous weapon. The passage of the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Act makes New York the first state to act in response to the horrific elementary school shooting in Newtown, Conn. last month. ***
ALBANY OFFICE: Room 827, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 518-455-5806, FAX: 518-455-5977 DISTRICT OFFICE: 185-06 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows, New York 11366 718-454-3158, E-mail: weprind@assembly.state.ny.us