Anchor: Gun control advocates have another law on their side that puts restrictions on a certain group of individuals. Reporter Meghan O’Brien tells us about this new law and what gun shop owners have to say.
Reporter: Thanks Meredith. People deemed dangerous or unstable could now have their guns taken away under the new Red Flag law. The Red Flag bill became a law yesterday in New York State and is set to take effect in August. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the law’s goal is to decrease the risk of school shootings by removing weapons from people who pose a danger to themselves or society. The law also prohibits those individuals from purchasing firearms, rifles, or shotguns. Gun shop manager David Steinberg said he believes this law gives teachers and officers too much control over people’s rights.
Steinberg: People are going to label people, not mentally insane, but not capable of having a firearm with no training on how to do it. And then once you’re labeled, a lot of times it’s tough to take a label away.
Reporter: The law allows police, district attorneys, family members, and school administrators to file an order of protection for an unstable individual. The court must then determine that the individual could potentially put others at risk. Steinberg said he’s unsure how much this will affect potentional mass shootings.
Steinberg: I’m not sure what it’s gonna solve or what’s going to happen with it. And also, cause liability wise in society, if all the sudden someone label’s me insane and that I shouldn’t have a firearm, I’m going to go after them civilly in court.
Reporter: President Trump’s ban on bump stocks, accessories that allow rifles to shoot faster, still stands despite push back from the Firearms Policy Coalition and Gun Owners of America.
Steinberg told me that he’s never carried bump stocks in his store, has never seen them sold elsewhere, and does not think the ban will affect any gun businesses.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – The Red Flag bill became a law on Monday in New York State and is set to take effect in August. The Legislature passed the bill in January and Governor Andrew Cuomo signed off on it.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the law’s goal is to decrease the risk of school shootings by removing weapons from people who pose a danger to themselves or society. The law also prohibits those individuals from purchasing firearms, rifles, or shotguns. It allows police, district attorneys, family members, and school administrators to file an order of protection for an unstable individual. The court must then determine that the individual could potentially put others at risk.
Gun shop manager David Steinberg said he believes this law gives teachers and officers too much control over people’s rights.
“People are going to label people, not mentally insane, but not capable of having a firearm with no training on how to do it. And then once you’re labeled, a lot of times it’s tough to take a label away,” said Steinberg.
He also said he was uncertain if this law will have a restricting affect on potential mass shootings. “I’m not sure what it’s gonna solve or what’s going to happen with it. And also, cause liability wise in society, if all the sudden someone labels me insane and that I shouldn’t have a firearm, I’m going to go after them civilly in court,” he said.
President Trump’s ban on bump stocks, accessories that allow rifles to shoot faster, still stands despite push back from the Firearms Policy Coalition and Gun Owners of America. Steinberg added that he’s never carried bump stocks in his store, has never seen them sold elsewhere, and does not think the ban will affect any gun businesses.
