The Facts
On Mon., NY Gov. Kathy Hochul signed 10 gun control bills into law following a slew of mass shootings in recent weeks. The legislation includes measures such as raising the minimum age for the purchase of semi-automatic rifles to 21 and implementing requirements for social media companies to track and report hate speech.
Some of Hochul's changes also include strengthening red flag laws, ensuring the microstamping of new semi-automatic weapons (to enable authorities to trace bullets back to guns), requiring licenses for semi-automatic guns, and limiting the sale of bullet-proof vests and armor to people in select professions.
The Spin
Republican narrative
If Hochul, and other legislative leaders truly cared about tackling the shootings epidemic, they would vote to repeal their disastrous bail laws that have turned US streets over to violent criminals. This gun control package excludes anything regarding mental health, which is the issue at the core of gun violence.
Democratic narrative
The second Amendment is not absolute and these laws are important for strengthening some of the country's toughest gun laws and closing loopholes that have enabled tragic mass shootings.