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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is promising to fight a package of federal firearms reforms before many of them even become final.
During a July 30 event, Hochul accused the Trump administration of abandoning public safety through more than 30 proposed ATF rule changes.
She called the proposals a “shameless giveaway to the gun lobby” and announced several state actions intended to limit their effect in New York.
“We’re here to fight back,” Hochul said.
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More Inspections for New York Gun Dealers
Hochul said New York State Police will increase on-site inspections of gun dealers connected to firearms later recovered at crime scenes.
Dealers who violate state law could face enforcement from State Police, Attorney General Letitia James and local district attorneys.
“Follow the laws or we’re shutting you down,” Hochul warned.
Her administration will also launch an education campaign reminding dealers and licensing officials that New York’s firearm restrictions remain in effect regardless of changes at the federal level.
The campaign will use direct mail and email to explain which federal changes are blocked or limited by existing state law.
Interstate Gun Task Force Returns
Hochul also plans to reconvene New York’s Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns this fall.
The task force currently involves New York and 11 other states. Its stated mission is to share information and target interstate firearm trafficking.
Hochul claimed that 80% of guns recovered at New York crime scenes originated outside the state. She blamed firearms moving through states such as Pennsylvania and Georgia for feeding what officials often call the “iron pipeline.”
She also accused ATF leadership of stepping away from interstate enforcement, although she did not provide specific evidence that agents had stopped investigating gun trafficking.
Hochul Targets Remote Firearm Sales
The biggest legislative proposal involves remote firearm transactions.
ATF has proposed expanding non-over-the-counter sales conducted by federally licensed dealers. Hochul described the proposal as allowing guns to be ordered online and delivered like food or shoes.
“What, are you going to have the guns delivered to your door now?” she asked. “A few clicks and boom, a firearm is on the way.”
However, the actual ATF proposal does not eliminate background checks.
It would apply to sales by federally licensed dealers to buyers residing in the same state as the dealer. The buyer’s identity would need to be verified remotely. The dealer would still complete the required transaction procedures and initiate a NICS background check before shipping or delivering the firearm.
The dealer would also have to wait for the NICS response or the end of the legally permitted investigative period.
That is considerably more involved than Hochul’s DoorDash comparison suggests.
Still, Hochul wants New York to prohibit the process entirely.
She promised to introduce legislation during the next state legislative session requiring every firearm sale in New York to occur in person.
“No online sales,” Hochul said. “None. None. Not happening.”
Other ATF Changes in Her Sights
The federal proposals cover far more than remote transactions.
One would revise the Biden administration’s expansive definition of who is “engaged in the business” of selling firearms. The revision would remove several regulatory presumptions while retaining the definition passed by Congress.
Other proposals would clarify when an unexpired state permit can serve as an alternative to a new NICS check, allow electronic recordkeeping and reduce paperwork for lawful interstate travel with certain NFA firearms.
Hochul characterized the entire package as an effort to weaken background checks and help bad actors in the firearm industry.
The federal proposals, however, remain subject to the rulemaking process. They are not the same as Congress passing new laws, and many retain existing background checks and statutory restrictions.
New York’s response is clear either way.
Hochul plans to increase dealer inspections, expand interstate coordination and seek another state restriction on lawful firearm purchases.
“They can turn a blind eye to these illicit gun dealers and violent criminals,” Hochul said, “but New York never will.”
For gun owners, the message is equally clear: Any relief coming from Washington may stop at the New York border.
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Psychotic TDS from the stupid commie bitch in NewYork. Door Dash guns? Moron. Tell ya what leftist fucking dipshit, you might take a look at what the Supreme Court has been doing with other commie states and their unconstitutional laws. Then there’s LaTITia chiming in on legalities. Are you fucking kidding me, that fat bitch belongs in prison. Then again it’s New York. Both of them can go munch a sack of door dash rotten dicks.
With the people you are voting for NY, good luck cause you’re getting exactly what you voted for, enjoy.
Stupid should hurt.
Nobody frequenting this page voted for Hochel. The gunowners in NY are behind enemy lines and outnumbered by Democrats and don’t need comments about “stupid and hurt”.
Yet another ridiculous move by this pompous moron running the once grand state of NY. Ms. Hochul’s threats have absolutely nothing to do with watching out for the safety of NY citizens but instead a blatant, misguided attack on the President, using threats against firearms manufacturers, authorized FFLs, and, of course, law abiding citizens exercising their constitutional rights. She clearly has no understanding of the current vetting process requiring the background checks, including NICS, which added another layer of background checking on top of the State & local government checks. Nothing more than obvious hated for our President and citizens (in NY and throughout the US) that didn’t vote for her party/ideology. Stupid is as stupid does…!
its more than just Kathy Hochul, she’s just an appointed puppet for the folks actually telling her what to do and say. she may agree or not but she does what she is told to do. that’s why they replaced Cuomo, she’ll do what they tell her. there are folks in power in the ‘peoples republic of NY’ pulling her chain that want to control the rest of us. follow the money and see who is controlling the Democrats/Socialists/Communists and that’s where it starts.
Then she is willingly violating the Constitution, and Federal law. It is the DOJ’s job, and our obligation as American citizens to remove her from office, and charge her with those offenses. Will it happen? Nope.
Bought guns from Sears and they haven’t been a problem. No we have all these guns laws and we have problems. Maybe you are missing the problem.
Maybe they are getting the guns from former California state senator Leland Yee.
He is out of prison now and knows where to get them and how to distribute them. He is one of your Democrat friends Kathy, give him a call. Tell him to knock that crap off.
By the way Kathy are you jumping on the California band wagon and telling the people what kind of tires to buy? You also should make it illegal to investigate fraud.
You are falling behind. How’s your gas stove and home heating restrictions going? Seems quiet lately.
The only thing that will cure New York is the multiple application of megaton-range therapy.
Very true unfortunately, or they could ban theDemocrat, communist party
That would be like Stalin taking a suggestion to ban Communism in the USSR.
Kathy hochul is having a serious mental health issue and needs to be removed from office immediately and placed into a mental institution for study and observation and be given daily doses of LSD !
That beaver-toothed libatard needs to go chew on a tree.
“damn”…….that’s a good comment!
Kathy Hochul just keep son making a bad state worse.
She says 80% of guns used in crimes are from out of state then pivots to going after the dealers in her state. She’s a complete moron.
80%…….i find that hard to believe, but if you would stop sending your criminals to other states to steal guns then all would be happy!