Governor Andrew Cuomo was joined by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to sign the Red Flag Gun Protection Bill.
The measure helps prevent people who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from buying or possessing a firearm.
"The United States loses more people to gun deaths than most developed nations. The first year of President Trump's administration, we lost 40,000 people to gun deaths - the highest number in 50 years. New York led the way by passing the strongest gun safety laws in the nation, but more must be done to end this carnage," Governor Cuomo said in a statement.
The governor said the law empowers school teachers and family members to go to a judge to have a person’s weapon taken away, if they fear they may be a danger.
"These bills are bold and far-reaching, containing strong, comprehensive solutions to save lives and end the crisis of senseless gun violence in America. Leaders in the State House and in the U.S. House must continue to work together to ensure that no other family is forced to endure the tragedy and heartbreak of gun violence, whether in our schools, in our places of worship, on our streets or in any place," Speaker Pelosi said.
Cuomo said the bill provides procedural safeguards to ensure that firearms aren’t taken away without due process.
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