By Becky Bratu, Staff Writer, NBC News
New York lawmakers are poised to pass major gun control legislation that would expand the state's existing assault weapons ban and address gun ownership by those with mental illnesses, the first major legislative action in response to the Newtown, Conn., school massacre.
The measure passed the state Senate 43-18 Monday, and is being weighed by the Assembly Tuesday.
"This will be the toughest gun control package in the nation," Sen.? Jeffrey Klein, leader of the Independent Democrat Conference that? shares majority control with Republican senators, told The Associated Press. "All in all, it is a? comprehensive, balanced approach that will save lives."
The vote comes as lawmakers in other states as well as the federal government wrestle with how to reduce gun violence after a series of mass shootings.
Obama to release gun recs as early as Wednesday
President Barack Obama is set to unveil his own proposals -- based on recommendations from Vice President Joe Biden's gun task force --?as early as Wednesday.?He is expected to focus on both legislative measures and steps that could be taken through executive action.
These steps could include cracking down on people who lie on background checks and focusing on improving school safety and mental health care.?A federal assault weapons ban would require approval from Congress.
In New Jersey, one of 18 new gun bills submitted to the legislature would require gun buyers to submit to a psychological evaluation. A bill requiring gun owners to register annually, and another requiring all guns to be kept in lock boxes when not in use may be introduced in California. While in Connecticut, state Sen. Beth Bye, wants to limit access to assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and require that firearms be registered by model and serial number.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who had called for an overhaul of gun laws in New York in his State of the State address last week, praised the swift action of state lawmakers.
"Tonight, the senators that voted for the NY SAFE Act of 2013 made a bold statement, coming together in a bipartisan, collaborative manner to meet the challenges that face our state and our nation, as we have?? seen? far too many senseless acts of gun violence," Cuomo?? said in? a statement Monday.
Under the measure:
- Police would create a registry of assault weapons. Those New Yorkers who already own such weapons would be required to register their guns with the state.?Current state law defines assault weapons as having two "military rifle" features, but the proposal would reduce that specification to just one feature and make the unsafe storage of assault weapons a misdemeanor.
- Private sales of assault weapons to people outside the immediate family circle would be subject to a background check and online sales of assault weapons would be banned.?
- Magazines would be restricted to seven bullets, from the current 10. Current owners of higher-capacity magazines would have a year to sell them out of state. If an owner is found to have eight or more bullets in a magazine, she could face a misdemeanor charge.
- The proposed measure would require that stolen guns be reported within 24 hours.
- The measure would also enshrine a system through which mental health? professionals would be required to report to officials when they? believe their patients may harm themselves or others. In such cases, police would be allowed to confiscate any guns owned by a potentially? dangerous patient.
?People who have mental health issues should not have guns,? Cuomo said, according to The New York Times. ?They could hurt themselves, they could hurt other? people.?
"It is well-balanced, it protects the Second Amendment," Senate? Republican leader Dean Skelos of Long Island told the AP. "And there is no? confiscation of weapons, which was at one time being considered.
Critics of the proposal accused lawmakers of playing politics with citizens' rights and hundreds of gun manufacturer jobs.
"We? haven't saved any lives tonight, except one: the political life of a? governor who wants to be president," Republican Sen. Greg Ball, who represents part of? the Hudson Valley, said Monday, according to the AP. "We have taken an entire category of firearms that? are currently legal that are in the homes of law-abiding, tax paying? citizens. ... We are now turning those law-abiding citizens into? criminals."
Assemblyman Marc Butler, a Republican who represents the upstate district where gun-maker Remington? Arms Co. is based, called the closed-door meetings by Senate Republicans and the Democratic? majority of the Assembly "politics at its worst."
Remington, which employs 1,000 workers,? makes the Bushmaster semi-automatic rifle that was used in the Newtown shooting and? the killing of two? firefighters in Webster, N.Y.
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Related stories:
Connecticut school named for slain Newtown teacher
Support soars for tougher gun laws, surveys show
Guns already allowed in schools with little restriction in many states
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