New gun laws will make it harder to purchase in NYS

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — New gun laws will make it harder to purchase firearms in New York State.

The New York State Assembly passed a series of gun control bills this week that includes a law that will require permits and being 21-years-old to purchase semi-automatic rifles.

"Law-abiding gun owners, they’re worried that they’ll lose the ability to purchase what they already own so they’ll purchase more," said Mike Centola, owner of Allstar Tactical.

The long-time gun shop owner, Centola says his customers are worried about their second amendment rights now that state laws require permits and an age raise from 18 to 21 to buy semi-automatic guns.

"We work with plenty of domestic violence victims, families, and business owners who just want to have a way to protect themselves get the information and get training too."

The Buffalo Tops Market and the Uvalde, Texas school shooters both wore body armor. Measurement in these new laws says buying body armor is now restricted.

Some Empire state lawyers who specialize in second amendment rights say the body armor provision isn’t unreasonable.

"I’m just not seeing the need we’re talking about hunting rifles, plinking guns, .22 caliber, these have never been subject to licensing in New York State and I don’t see the reason," Sheldon Boyce said, a local second amendment lawyer.

"We already have background checks, we have the permitting process that will have to happen, we will force them through the process to have the time to think about what exactly they’re trying to do with a weapon of mass destruction," NYS Senate Majority Leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins said.

Another popular local gun shop, "The Firing Pin," reports it has seen growing numbers of people coming in for training in recent weeks. The new laws passed also include a new task force to spot violent extremism on social media to flag those with potential mental illness and keep them from getting guns.