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Cuomo Signs Anti-Domestic Violence Gun Bill

Governor Andrew Cuomo
Pat Bradley/WAMC
Governor Andrew Cuomo

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation Tuesday that would temporarily take away the guns of people accused of domestic violence.

Governor Cuomo organized a signing ceremony that included a student from the Parkland, Florida school where the February 14th mass shooting occurred, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Cuomo says taking guns away from domestic violence offenders helps to diffuse a potentially deadly situation.

“Common sense, if you have domestic violence perpetrators or you have a person with an order of protection, take away the guns,” the Democrat said, to applause.

But Cuomo concedes that New York can’t do it alone, and that national gun safety measures must be enacted. He blames a combination of what he says are “extreme conservatives” in Washington, and the lobbying power of the National Rifle Association.

The sponsor of the bill in the state Senate, Elaine Phillips, says she’s “confident” the new law “will protect women, men and children from their abusers and prevent further tragedies.”

A judge will determine whether an alleged abuser’s guns can be taken, and Senator Phillips, a Republican from Long Island, says the court system will now have “better guidelines” for when to take the firearms, and also, when it’s safe to give them back.

Karen DeWitt is Capitol Bureau chief for New York State Public Radio, a network of public radio stations in New York state. She has covered state government and politics for the network since 1990.
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