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Governor signs gun law, slated as toughest in the nation

Listing of the details of the law

By WKTV News

Story Created: Jan 15, 2013 at 9:08 PM EDT

Story Updated: Jan 16, 2013 at 7:49 AM EDT

ALBANY-(WKTV)Governor Andrew Cuomo signed into law the NY SAFE Act (Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act) late this afternoon.

The law is said to be the toughest gun laws in the nation.

"The new law will limit gun violence through common sense, reasonable reforms that include addressing the risks posed by mentally ill people who have access to guns and banning high capacity magazines and lethal assault weapons," Governor Cuomo said. "This legislation is not about hunters, sportsmen, or legal owners who use their guns appropriately. It is about reducing gun violence and making New York a safer place to live."

It includes provisions that keep guns out of the hands of convicted felons and mental health patients, and ban high capacity magazines and assault weapons. Officials say the state is the first state to ban any magazine that can gold more than seven rounds and run instant background checks on all ammunition purchases at the time of sale.

The key provisions in the act include:

Mental Health Alert: Mental health professionals are now required to report to local mental health officials when there is a patient who may pose a risk. The information will then be crosschecked against a gun registration database. If the patient has a gun, then the license will be suspended. And the weapon could be removed.

Tougher assault weapons ban: The law offers a stricter definition of assault weapons and put in place an immediate ban of those assault weapons. The stricter definition of assault weapon would include things like semi-automatic pistols and rifles with detachable magazines and one military style feature. Also, semi-automatic shotguns with one military style feature are also considered assault weapons.

Other areas the law covers includes: Ammunition, Universal Background Checks, the Webster Provision. View the list at the following link: http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/01152013-outline-of-nys-groundbreaking-gun-legislation

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