Albany passes ‘Red Flag’ guns law
and violent individuals before a
tragedy occurs. This law will keep New
York State individuals, families and
schools safe from the threats of extremist
gun violence.”
Under the law, household members,
relatives, peace offi cers, district attorneys
and school administrators can fi le
a petition with the state Supreme Court
to issue a protective order preventing
someone from owning, purchasing or
attempting to purchase a fi rearm.
Petitioners must show evidence in
State Supreme Court that the person
has access to, owns or possesses a fi rearm
and is at risk of harming him- or
herself or others. Petitions must be
fi led in the county in which the potentially
dangerous person resides.
It’s expected that a decision on the
petition will be made the same day it is
fi led. Some factors the court will consider
include if the person has ever violated
an order of protection, currently
has substance-abuse issues, or has
pending charges on the use of a weapon
and threat of violence or use of physical
force toward themselves or others.
Three to six days after the decision,
a follow-up hearing would be held on
whether or not to keep weapons out of
the person’s home for up to a year.
On Aug. 3, Patrick Crusius, 21,
opened fi re in an El Paso, Texas, Walmart,
killing 22 people and injuring 10
others. Then next day, Conner Betts,
24, killed 24 and injured 27 others with
an AK-47 rifl e in Dayton, Ohio.
COURTESY BRIAN KAVANAGH’S OFFICE
State Senator Brian Kavanagh spoke about the “Red Flag” Law, as he
was joined by, among others, state Senators Brad Hoylman and Kevin
Parker, Assemblymembers Deborah Glick and Jo Anne Simon, and
Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance and his Bronx counterpart, Darcel
Elevator death puts focus on safety bill
native who lived in the building.
After the horrifying incident, a building resident
said its elevators generally were balky and often
jumped when going between fl oors, according to ABC
News. The building was recently fi ned $1,280 in May
for unsafe elevator conditions, though that was for a
different elevator than the one involved in the fatal
incident. Last month, a work permit was issued to fi x
the wiring on both of the building’s elevators.
A state bill that passed in June would require stricter
licensing rules for elevator mechanics and provide
training standards regulated by the government,
which are currently not required. But the bill has not
yet been signed by Governor Cuomo.
The legislation was sponsored by state Senator Diane
Savino, a Democrat representing Brooklyn and
Staten Island. State Senator Brad Hoylman, who represents
Downtown Manhattan, is a co-sponsor.
“The elevator accident that claimed the life of a
man in Manhattan last week is made all the more
tragic due to the fact that it could have been preventable,”
Hoylman said. “That horrifi c incident underscores
the need for the elevator safety law that Albany
passed earlier this year.”
The bill, Hoylman added, “would ensure the proper
training and licensing of the professionals who
design, construct, inspect, maintain and repair elevators.
I am hopeful that Governor Cuomo will sign this
long-sought measure into law soon,” he said.
Following the accident, Cuomo’s offi ce has said
that the bill is still under legal review by state lawyers
and that it has not been sent to him yet.
VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITES
IN MANHATTAN
Clark.
BY GABE HERMAN
After a Kips Bay man was killed in an elevator
accident last Thursday, attention has turned to
state legislation that its supporters say would
increase elevator safety.
The tragic incident happened in the Manhattan
Promenade apartment building, at 344 Third Ave., at
E. 25th St. On the morning of Aug. 22, six people
were in the elevator as it reached the lobby. Two people
got off safely, and when a man started to exit, the
elevator suddenly dropped. The man was caught in
between and crushed.
Offi cials responded around 8:30 a.m. to a 911 call.
E.M.S. workers pronounced the man dead at the
scene. He was identifi ed as Sam Waisbren, 30, a Wisconsin
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BY ALEJANDRA O’CONNELLDOMENECH
Sponsors of New York’s Extreme
Risk Protection Order law last
week announced the new guncontrol
measure would go into effect
Sat., Aug. 24., making this the 17th
state to enact such a bill. Governor
Cuomo signed the bill into law in February.
State Senators Brian Kavanagh and
Brad Hoylman and Assemblymembers
Deborah Glick and Jo Anne Simon
spoke about the bill outside the Manhattan
courts on Thurs., Aug. 22.
The legislation, also called the “Red
Flag Law,” prevents those who might
be a risk to themselves or others from
purchasing a fi rearm, rifl e or shotgun.
“Sat., Aug. 24 is a big day for everyone
who joined the effort we began in
2014 to empower New Yorkers to save
lives,” said Kavanagh, the bill’s prime
sponsor chairperson of American State
Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention.
“At a time when we can’t count on
our president to respond to two mass
shootings in 24 hours with any real
proposals to prevent gun violence,”
Hoylman said, “it is more important
than ever that New York step up to the
plate and do what’s necessary.”
Glick added, “It is imperative to ensure
that New York State residents have
the ability to recognize potentially dangerous
6 August 29, 2019 TVG Schneps Media
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