Effective today, federal background checks are required for all private firearm sales in New York.

[Robb]

The new laws are part of a package of gun control measures dubbed "NY Safe Act" pushed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in January, a month after the Newtown, Conn. school massacre.

Private sales now require the purchaser to have a federal background check by a licensed gun dealer. The purchaser must present the seller a form showing he or she passed the check. Sales or transfers among immediate family members are exempt from the law. Private dealers can charge up to $10 for the background check.

Also effective today is another provision that requires judges issuing an order of protection to determine whether to suspend or revoke the state pistol permit held by the person against whom the order of protection is issued. Judges have had the power to do so, but the new provision requires judges to consider doing so.

Another provision effective today makes it a felony to buy or dispose of a rifle shotgun or pistol for someone prohibited by law from having one because of a conviction or disability. The law also requires gun owners to store their guns in a locked cabinet or case if they live with someone who cannot by law own a gun due to a criminal record, past commitment to a mental institution or a court-issued order of protection.

http://www.riverheadlocal.com/local-news/8842-effective-today-federal-background-checks-required-for-private-gun-sales-in-new-york

[freshwest]

1. Sounds like common sense. It will require a strong commitment to enforce it.

[hack89]

2. Good move. Now lets fund the system adequately

so federal agencies and the states can keep the data up to date.

[mwrguy]

3. Congrats

49 more to go.

[CokeMachine]

4. You might mean 48.

California has had this in effect for years now.

[mwrguy]

6. Happy to be wrong on that one.

48 is better

[hack89]

8. Rhode Island also requires background checks for private sales. nt

[Robb]

12. California, Rhode Island, Connecticut,

Illinois, Oregon and -- as soon as our governor signs the bill -- Colorado all require universal background checks.

[ManiacJoe]

5. An unexpected implementation. Cool.

"The purchaser must present the seller a form showing he or she passed the check. ... dealers can charge up to $10 for the background check."

Sounds like some folks found a reasonable way to do this!
Buyer goes to a dealer, fills out the forms, gets the background check done, pays the $10, brings a copy of the form with confirmed check status to the private seller, makes the buy.

[spin]

7. This is a law that I fully support. ...

I live in Florida and I have my own rules when I sell a firearm.

1) Obviously the buyer has to be a Florida resident.

2) I have to know the buyer personally.

3) The buyer has to have a valid Florida concealed weapons permit which means he has had a background check and has had firearm safety training.

As a responsible gun owner I wish to be as certain as I can that any firearm I sell ends up in the hands of another responsible person.

I hope this legislation passes at the national level.

[ManiacJoe]

9. The fed legislation is different from the NY law.

The NY law seems better regarding the background checks.

[Crepuscular]

10. An example

An example of good gun safety legislation, hopefully it will become a Federal law. Now expand it to include access to mental health records as part of the background check process.

[Robb]

11. You should perhaps read about the SAFE act.

It includes a provision for mental health professionals to report to the state when they believe a patient is unfit to own a firearm. That information becomes part of the background check, and also became law yesterday in New York.

[GP6971]

18. Did I read

somewhere that a number of mental health professionals were publicly refusing to comply?

Also, a question......I have not read the act, but would the mental health professionals be required to report to the state even if the person had absolutely no interest in guns? My guess would be probably yes.

[Robb]

20. Only the Department of Veterans Affairs

The VA believes, and I think they're right, that federal law on vets' records privacy supersedes the state law, which is opt-in anyhow. They're declining to participate based upon their interpretation of their federal obligations.

The law establishes a reporting system, but still leaves it to practitioners to report or not report.

[GP6971]

21. Thanks. n/t

[ProgressiveProfessor]

13. Surprised this was not delayed due to the pending legal challenge

[Robb]

14. It's the law, it's being enforced.

Orly Taitz's lawsuits didn't delay the President's inauguration, either.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

15. Apples and Oranges

Look at Prop H8

[Robb]

16. Prop 8 was a constitutional amendment.

The SAFE act is regulatory. How long have you been following politics?

[ProgressiveProfessor]

17. Long enough to have seen all kinds of laws/regulations/constitutional amendments

block in court before they became effective.

It was just a question, not been able to follow things regularly as of recent.

[slackmaster]

19. This will put an end to all violent crime

Just as it has here in California.