Speaker Heastie Statement on Passage of Legislation to Protect New Yorkers from Gun Violence

Today, the Assembly Majority passed legislation to assure New Yorkers that despite the dangerous and disturbing decision by the Supreme Court to dismantle our more than 100-year-old sensible concealed carry law, we will not accept tragedies like the racist shooting in Buffalo or the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas as the cost of access to firearms.

This Supreme Court may prioritize access to guns over the lives of our loved ones, but we do not. We will not allow this country’s gross fascination with guns to force us to live in fear.

For years, we have fought for common sense gun legislation because we believe New Yorkers have a right to feel safe in public spaces, not just in schools and government buildings, but at their place of worship or the grocery store. We believe that no parent should worry that their child will not return home from school. And we know that more guns do not make our communities safer.

Here in New York, we will never value guns over lives. The legislation we passed today reflects that unwavering commitment. I thank our partners in the Senate and the governor for working with us to protect New Yorkers from gun violence.