The State of New York is poised to pass the nation's first gun control bill, in the aftermath of the Newtown, Connecticut, massacre. The new law limits the number of bullets in a magazine, and strengthens the laws to keep guns, out of the hands of the mentally ill.
New York's Senate approved the measure in a 43-18 vote. Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his intentions to toughen gun laws, at his State of the State address. The initiatives include, tightening the assault weapons ban, and background checks when guns are purchased in private transactions.
Jan. 15, CNN reports, "Residents would also be restricted to purchasing ammunition magazines that carry seven bullets, rather than 10. It remains unclear what effect the measure will have on the state's already stringent approach to gun control."
The new laws will affect the current Kendra's Law, which allows closer monitoring of the mentally ill. The law gives New York judges the authority to require residents to undergo psychiatric treatment, for up to one year, if they meet certain criteria.
The new laws will allow authorities to suspend or revoke gun licenses, based on those reviews by mental health professionals. The bill also creates mandatory life sentences for the murder of first responders
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