Bipartisan bill would ban ‘bump stocks’ for rifles in NY
Shooting instructor Frankie McRae illustrates the grip on an AR-15 rifle fitted with a "bump stock" at his 37 PSR Gun Club in Bunnlevel, N.C., on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. Credit: AP
ALBANY — A bipartisan bill was introduced in the State Legislature Thursday that would close a loophole in New York law that allows the sale of “bump stocks” and other devices for rifles that were used in the Las Vegas shooting that left 59 dead and 500 injured Sunday night.
Currently state law allows for the sale of these devices and conversion kits sometimes called trigger cranks that can be applied to semi-automatic rifles to allow for quicker pulling of triggers. Fully automatic weapons are illegal.
The bill would ban possession and transportation of the devices after a phase-in period.
“This legislation will correct a loophole in our state’s law that has senselessly allowed the sale of these conversion devices and increases our vulnerability to gun violence,” said Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx).
“We can do this while respecting the rights of responsible gun owners and the many sportsmen and women in our state,” said Assemb. Patricia Fahy (D-Albany).
Sen. Andrew Lanza (R-Staten Island) is sponsoring the bill in the Republican-led Senate. There was no immediate comment from the Republican majority on the bill.
Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who ushered in the state’s SAFE Act gun control law, had no immediate comment.
Michael Gormley has worked for Newsday since 2013, covering state government, politics and issues. He has covered Albany since 2001.
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