In regard to gun reform, Senator Patrick Leahy’s statement today sticks with me: “The fact that we can't do everything should not prevent us from doing anything." While these gun reform efforts might not completely address the issue of gun violence, that is not an excuse to stand by idly and do nothing. We have to try and put in place whatever common sense measures we can to stop those people who should not have guns from having them. There is no silver bullet in the issue of gun violence.

Governor Cuomo defended New York State's new gun control law today, saying it is a "reasonable approach" to keep guns "out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill." Cuomo spoke as an estimated 5,000 people rallied in Albany against the newly enacted legislation.

The law sets a seven-bullet limit on magazines, requires owners of formerly legal semi-automatic guns to register them, and expands the list of "illegal assault weapons." Cuomo reminded New Yorkers he's a gun owner, adding the law is "not about taking away anyone's gun." Protesters said Cuomo "is willing to sacrifice the Constitution" for his political career. What do you say?

Is New York State's new gun control law reasonable? If not, how would you change it? What's your reaction to today's protest in Albany? How important is the issue of gun control when deciding who to vote for?

Send your thoughts using the link above.

Of course Cuomo just like everyone else will sacrifice even the constitution just for votes.

HOW MUCH LOWER CAN ANY OF THESE POLITICIANS GET?

THE ILLEGAL GUNS ARE THE ONES TO BE CONFISCATED ALONG WITH WHOMEVER HAS POSSESSION OF IT.

I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE SERVING TIME ON WEAPONS POSSESSION.

CAN WE SEE A PRINT OUT?

JUST AS ALL OF THE OTHER POLITICIANS CUOMO IS EXPLOITING THIS TRAGEDY.
[ONCE AGAIN I ASK WHERE HAVE THEY ALL BEEN BEFORE THIS TRAGEDY?]

Maxxiee
Morris Park

New York's gun control is absolutely the right kind of legislation that should be a model throughout the nation, these gun nutty enthusiast always use political threats and wrap themselves in the constitution which gives people the right to own a gun not arsenals that are meant to kill and maim hundreds of thousands as we have witnessed in the last decades.

Felix
Bay Ridge

Whether gun use is regulated or guns are banned outright, this is a violation of property rights. When the gun regulation nuts eventually find out that crime is not reduced, they'll be back at the table now demanding even stronger regulations until finally demanding confiscation.

Joe
Port Richmond

Why would a “responsible” or “law-abiding” gun owner have a problem with background checks? Has anybody else noticed that the same people are in favor of stop-and-frisk? Does anybody else suspect that these terms are new code words for “white people”?

The sergeant majorette
East Harlem

It is unfortunate that gun control had become a necessary requirement in our society today. Law abiding citizens are actually protected by this law and this citizens protection is as much a right as owning a firearm. Additionally, the people upstate can still continue to hunt. There was a time when hunting consisted of a bow & arrow and they did okay. The government (we the people) need to look after each other's safety and the governor is trying to do that based on what the people (govenment) want and the people want more safety. Nothing tyranical about giving up one firearm in return for that right.

Elena
Bayside

I believe he (Alan Korwin) should not have been allowed so much time. Personally I support the repeal of the 2nd amendment. These guns are killing us - look at how many of these gun owners - their families and such - get killed with guns.

John

Granted upstate NY is a different world than the city- but i don't see one provision in the safe act that is not reasonable. We need background checks and regulations on these weapons. Like biden said get a shot gun to protect your land.

No one calls " in god we trust" on our money unconstitutional.

Lee
Gravesend

Gun regulations is necessary to save lives; if we do not act now then Sandy Hook will happen again; in fact it is happening everyday. I don't understand how any reasonable person cannot understand this fact. They need to seat down with their families and see themselves on film.

Enough is Enough; I lost my nephew and Sandy was the last straw, why can't the pro-gun owners see it.

The pro-gun callers are double talking; they say the problem is the criminals, the mental health, someone must do something but not take my gun.

Marie

The gun people are absolutely correct. There should be a bigger focus on mental health. That is - the mental health of gun owners. The supposed law abiding citizen in Sandy Hook - the mother of the murderer known as Adam Lanza - had at least one XM-15 assault rifle not under lock and key. Then she decided to take her problem son to a shooting range! She taught him how to not only kill her but also those innocent little children as well as the adults who tried to protect them. Yes, gun owners mental health should definately be examined. And as for that author, just what century is he living in?

Nancy
Hell's Kitchen

To caller Milton: I own guns and I support the second amendment. I have lost family and friends to "gun violence". Their relatives nor I blamed a gun for a coward's actions.

Cuomo's gun law does NOT go after criminals and the mentally ill, they go after LEGAL GUN OWNERS such as myself and the thousands of protesters. If you or anyone think for one solitary second that he is not out to take anyone's guns away, you are sorely mistaken. Ask Dinkins about "not taking guns away" in 1991.

Lamont
Far Rockaway

When was the last time anyone broke into the home of the gun law protesters? Virtually never, with rare exception. So, what, or who are they afraid of and why? They live in lilly white neighborhoods, so the argument about common street criminals is nonsense! Gangbangers can't and don't want to go into those neighborhoods and the real nuts already live there.

Steven
Jamaica

whats the point of gun control. great you can't buy ar 15s but then now there will be a lot more illegal weapons getting imported

I am a nyc correction officer and have also been a gun owner since i was 18 years old. I totally disagree with governor cuomo's gun control laws and no first hand that it will not change any crimes commited with guns. The governors law focuses on so called assault weapons which are semi automatics, the same as every handgun that is out there, most people do not even know what semi auto means, its one pull of trigger one bullet. also assualt weapons are used in less then 1 % of all crimes, so this law will have no effect on crime. These laws have made it so hard to even purchase ammunition i can not even practice with my personal protection/on duty firearm because its virtually impossible to purchase ammunition right now. These laws will not do anything to affect crimes commited with guns.

People say psychological background check will help. But my point of view, someone who wants to buy guns in this age itself prove the person is psychologically ill.

T
Washington Heights

I believe gun owners are using the law of being allowed to bear firearms for protection. Yet, landlords are allowed to ban dog ownership in their tenants. Dogs are protection and give health enhancing benefits to all. They keep neighborhoods safer and more pleasant. We are debating gun ownership when dogs (millions of which are killed yearly) are not allowed. Isn't the dog man's best friend? Also, mental health care needs to be free to everyone. Dogs and free mental health will go much further to curb violence and hate towards eachother. I think this will be a stronger start which we need to begin first then gun control.

Gloria

All the gun-supporters out there need to remember that the Second Amendment was not put in place to protect citizens from a "tyrannical" government. It was adopted specifically to give the federal government the power to put down rebellions by raising militias--militias whose other chief purpose was to capture runaway slaves. It has since by twisted by extremists to justify the right to own a private armory--not even close to what the founders of this country intended. That's more than enough reason to support sensible gun control in New York State.

Chris
Lower East Side

PLAN B:
ALL WEAPONS ENTERED IN A NATIONAL WEAPONS DATA BASE REGISTRY UPON PURCHASE BUYER HAS A FILL-IN APPLICATION - CUSTOMIZED PER STATE ALL RESIDENTS IN A WEAPON HOME, WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE NEWER WEAPONS HAVE A COMPUTER CHIP FOR TRACKING ACTIVITY SHOULD THE MILITIA NEED BACK-UP, DATA BASE WILL HAVE WEAPON TYPE THAT IS CURRENT LOCAL OWNERS.
THEN, THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS - WITH BATTLE READY AGENTS THIS DATA IS TRANSPARENT EASY TO IDENTIFY AREA OF WEAPON

COST OF THIS PROGRAM IS ZERO; NADA; NO MAS; THE CORP IS ON THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT PAYROLL

Carmelita
Harlem