Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver told reporters on Wednesday that Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders are “95 percent” close to an agreement on an assault weapons ban, including new measures to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and mentally ill people, reported The New York Times.
The proposal, which will also include a ban on high capacity magazines, would result in some of the strictest gun-control laws to go into effect in the country, and Senate Republicans have given strong indication they do not plan to block it.
Aides to Cuomo said the proposed legislation would mimic California’s law, which carries one of the most restrictive gun laws in the nation.
The New York law not only will expand the definition of what is considered an assault weapon but also limit detachable ammunition magazines to 7 rounds from the current 10 and require background checks for purchases of ammunition, not just weapons, reported the paper.
Albany lawmakers hope to vote on the package as early as next week.
