New York State's Newly Enacted Gun Control Laws

Many citizens are in dismay over the new ruling Democratic lawmakers passed in late June making it illegal to carry firearms in certain "sensitive locations". Governor Kathy Hochul (D) signed a bill on July 1st establishing a list of locations deemed to be sensitive to carrying firearms. The locations she picked vary from different public places such as airports, government buildings as well as any places of worship.

The law will go into effect starting on September 1st making it a felony crime to carry a firearm in the restricted locations. Several upstate New Yorkers have expressed their concern regarding this new law. Some of whom work at summer camps in Adirondack Park that teach sporting rifle courses for children that could now be a felony crime considering the camps are deemed "sensitive locations".

The law has an exception for those who are "lawfully engaged in hunting activity", however, deer season only lasts for a few weeks in the fall. There is an ongoing debate in the Senate over whether this new bill pertains to all of the Adirondack Parklands or just the parts that are open to the public. The president of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, Tom King, was quoted stating "I have gotten hundreds of calls from people from the Adirondacks...And all I can say is that there are going to be lawsuits".