NY gun control laws

Governor Andrew Cuomo made  New Yorks gun control laws stronger on Tuesday by signing into law a new package of firearm and mental health regulations that mark the nations first since last month's massacre in Newtown, Connecticut.Cuomo who is  a self described gun owner said the December 14 tragedy made lawmakers go in to action and called it a "common sense" measure before enacting what are widely seen as America's toughest gun laws.

"You can overpower the extremists with intelligence and common sense" he said before inking the deal in Albany.

Andrew Cuomo

Cuomo yelling

Guns

The laws strengthen New York's existing assault weapons ban, limit the number of bullets allowed in magazines and strengthen rules that govern the mentally ill which includes a requirement to report potentially harmful behavior.The first term Democratic governor had called for a tightening of the assault weapons ban background checks for people who purchase guns privately and more restrictions on high capacity magazines.The new laws include a statewide gun registry and a uniform licensing standard, altering the current system in which each county or municipality sets its own standard.Residents are now restricted to purchasing ammunition magazines that carry seven bullets rather than 10.The bill creates mandatory life sentences for anyone who murders certain first responders a provision that comes after two firefighters were killed in an ambush as they battled a blaze in upstate New York.