The New York chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statement applauding Governor Kathy Hochul for signing several gun violence prevention bills, including S.14A and S.13A, two bills to prohibit ghost guns — unserialized, untraceable homemade firearms, the building blocks of which can be obtained without a background check. Volunteers drove over 5,400 messages to state lawmakers and over 1,900 messages to the Governor’s office in support of the bills.
“Ghost guns are the fastest growing gun safety threat that our country faces, and taking steps to prohibit these dangerous weapons is essential to promoting gun safety,” said Nick Suplina, Senior Vice President of Law & Policy at Everytown for Gun Safety. “We are thankful to Governor Hochul and the New York legislature for recognizing the urgent need to act to protect the state from ghost guns and for continuing the state’s national leadership in the fight against gun violence. Enacting these two bills will save lives, and keep New York’s communities safe.”
“Today, the Governor and our lawmakers are taking a strong stand against the growing risk that ghost guns pose to New York communities,” said Nathalie Arzu, a volunteer with the New York Chapter of Moms Demand Action. “We are so pleased Governor Hochul has reaffirmed her commitment to reducing gun violence and putting the safety of New Yorkers first with the signing of these important bills, and we look forward to continuing to work together to lead the way in the gun safety movement.”
About the Bills:
- S.14A, known as the Jose Webster Untraceable Firearms Act, and S.13A, known as the Scott J. Beigel Unfinished Receiver Act, will generally prohibit the possession and sale of unserialized ghost guns and of unfinished frames and receivers, the building blocks used to make ghost guns, which are widely available online and can be purchased without a background check.
More information on ghost guns is available here. More information on gun violence in New York is available here.