Assemblywoman
Addie J. Russell (D-Theresa) has drafted new legislation aimed at curbing the
deaths of first responders and law enforcement officials and providing for
stiffer penalties for persons that act recklessly and allow guns to fall into
the hands of those that kill first responders and law enforcement
officials. The bill also limits the
amount of information available about pistol permit holders that can be
obtained by the public to the name and county of residence of the permit
holder.
The
focus of this legislation provides justice for first responders and law
enforcement officials that are murdered, such as in the case of Mark Davis, and
the firefighters killed in Webster , New York
“We
all know that the people killing our innocent first responders, law enforcement
officials, school children, teachers and even movie-goers – tend to be mentally
unstable, including having homicidal tendencies,” Assemblywoman Russell said. “It is time to not just deal with the
aftermath, but to tackle the issue head on and enact policies that can actually
prevent these crimes. This legislation
has been drafted to address the issue using three elements.”
1.
The bill will once
and for all include our first responders in the Murder in the First Degree and
Aggravated Murder law.
2.
The bill will
place a burden on the owners of firearms to keep them out of the hands of the
mentally unstable and homicidal criminals or be charged with a new crime -
Reckless Use of a Weapon – punishable by up to fifteen years in prison. This new crime is targeted at the killings
covered in the Murder in the First Degree and Aggravated Murder laws.
3.
The bill will
limit the amount of information available regarding pistol permit holders that can
be publicly obtained to the permit holders name and county of residence.
“The
goal is to prevent those that are mentally unstable or homicidal criminals from
obtaining guns. It is a fact that we can
never really regulate every way to prevent someone from killing, but as gun
owners we should take steps to ensure these murderers do not use our guns to
commit the crime. The threat of
prosecution will make all of us rethink how we take care of our guns, and who
we allow to have access to them. Limiting
the amount of information available about pistol permit holders will help law
abiding gun owners keep themselves safe from would-be criminals, by not
advertising or allowing easy access to directions to their homes and thus the locations
of their guns,” Russell said.
“For
the vast majority of gun owners, this bill will not make us have to do anything
differently in terms of how we take care of our guns,” Russell said. “This bill will send a message to reckless
gun owners – if you do not keep your guns out of the hands of those that kill
first responders, cops and kids, you will be facing 15 years in prison.”
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