Times Square set to become 'gun-free zone' under law taking effect Thursday

Authored by cbc.ca and submitted by thisisjas9n
image for Times Square set to become 'gun-free zone' under law taking effect Thursday

Amid the bright lights and electronic billboards across New York's Times Square, city authorities are posting new signs proclaiming the bustling crossroads a "gun-free zone."

The sprawling Manhattan tourist attraction is one of scores of "sensitive" places — including parks, churches and theatres — that will be off-limits for guns under a sweeping new state law going into effect Thursday. The measure, passed after a U.S. Supreme Court decision in June expanded gun rights, also sets stringent standards for issuing concealed carry permits.

With 50 million tourists flocking to the area every year, Times Square is one of the most densely packed areas in the country and a prime spot, New York authorities say, to apply the new law.

"You actually have to say that: A gun-free zone," said Mayor Eric Adams, who expressed bafflement during a Wednesday news conference that the city has resorted to posting signs along the perimeter of the 35-block business district as a way to keep guns out.

Police began hanging temporary signs on street poles with zip ties. On Thursday, digital street signs will be stationed across the area.

"I wish this wasn't a topic we needed to talk about today. Had there not been a decision by the Supreme Court at the end of June, we would not be having this conversation," Gov. Kathy Hochul said at the same news conference.

New York is among a half-dozen states that had key provisions of its gun laws invalidated by the high court because of a requirement for applicants to prove they had "proper cause" for a permit. Hochul said last Friday that she and her fellow Democrats in the state legislature took action the next week because the ruling "destroyed the ability for a governor to be able to protect her citizens from people who carry concealed weapons anywhere they choose."

WATCH | Hochul explains new law: New gun safety laws coming into effect across New York state Duration 1:47 Various locations across the state of New York, including libraries and schools, are about to become gun-free zones, where only those who are specifically authorized by law enforcement are allowed to bring in firearms, even if they are licensed and legally own a gun. One of the gun-free locations will be Times Square in New York City.

The quickly adopted law, however, has led to confusion and court challenges from gun owners who say it improperly limits their constitutional rights.

A federal judge declined to put the new gun rules on hold Wednesday. Despite writing that the arguments for granting a preliminary injunction to stop the rules were persuasive, Judge Glenn Suddaby said the plaintiffs — an upstate New York resident and three gun rights organizations — didn't have standing to bring the legal action.

A map shows the locations of the 'Gun Free Zone' signs in Times Square. (Yuki Iwamura/The Associated Press)

Under the law, applicants for a concealed carry permit will have to complete 16 hours of classroom training and two hours of live-fire exercises. Ordinary citizens would be prohibited from bringing guns to schools, churches, subways, theatres and amusement parks — among other places deemed "sensitive" by authorities.

Applicants also will have to provide a list of social media accounts for the past three years as part of a "character and conduct" review. The requirement was added because shooters have sometimes dropped hints of violence online before they opened fire on people.

Sheriffs in some upstate counties said the additional work for their investigators could add to existing backlogs in processing applications.

In Rochester, Monroe County Sheriff Todd Baxter said it currently takes two to four hours to perform a pistol permit background check on a "clean" candidate. He estimate the new law will add another one to three hours for each permit. The county has about 600 pending pistol permits.

"It's going to slow everything down just a bit more," he said.

In the Mohawk Valley, Fulton County Sheriff Richard C. Giardino had questions on how the digital sleuthing would proceed.

"It says three years worth of your social media. We're not going to print out three years of social media posts by everybody. If you look at my Facebook, I send out six or 10 things a day," said the sheriff, a former district attorney and judge.

The list of prohibited spaces for carrying guns has drawn criticism from advocates who say it's so extensive it will make it difficult for people with permits to move about in public. People carrying a gun could go into private business only with permission, such as a sign posted on the window.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks as Mayor Eric Adams looks on during a news conference regarding the new gun laws Wednesday. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)

Businesses post signs welcoming gun owners

Giardino has already started giving out signs to local businesses saying people can carry legal firearms on the premises. Jennifer Elson, who owns the Let's Twist Again Diner in Amsterdam, said she put up the sheriff's sign, along with one of her own reading in part "per our governor, we have to post this nonsense. If you are a law abiding citizen who obtained a legal permit to carry, you are welcome here."

"I feel pretty strongly that everybody's constitutional rights should be protected," she said.

But in Times Square, visited by about 50 million tourists annually, and many less crowded places carrying a gun will be illegal starting Thursday.

WATCH | Supreme Court deals major blow to gun-reform advocates: U.S. Supreme Court overturns New York’s limits on concealed handguns Duration 2:00 The U.S. Supreme Court dealt a major blow to gun reform advocates and struck down a law in New York that put limits on carrying handguns in public.

New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams said Tuesday she looked forward to seeing authorities move to "protect New Yorkers and visitors who frequent Times Square."

High court ruling spurs other states to act

The Supreme Court ruling also led to a flurry of legislation in California to tighten rules on gun ownership, including a new law that could hold gun dealers and manufacturers responsible for any harm caused by anyone they have "reasonable cause to believe is at substantial risk" of using a gun illegally.

Earlier this month, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law a measure that would require gun permit applicants to undergo personal interviews with a licensing authority.

New Jersey required people to get training before receiving a permit and would require new residents to register guns brought in from out of state.

Hawaii, which has the nation's lowest number of gun deaths, is still weighing its options. Since the Supreme Court's ruling, the state has only granted one new gun permit.

While New York does not keep statewide data on pistol permit applications, there are reports of long lines at county clerks' office and other evidence of a surge in applications before the law takes effect.

In the Mohawk Valley, Pine Tree Rifle Club President Paul Catucci said interest in the club's volunteer-run safety courses "blew right up" late this summer.

"I had to turn hundreds of them away," he said.

gullydowny on August 31st, 2022 at 23:18 UTC »

How about an Elmo free zone

Is that still a thing

R00t240 on August 31st, 2022 at 22:51 UTC »

Isn’t all of nyc basically a gun free zone?

MaximumEffort433 on August 31st, 2022 at 22:38 UTC »

For those not in the know, gun free zones don't necessary prevent people from bringing firearms into a place, but it does allow them to be charged with a crime if they're caught, and charged with an additional crime if they commit a shooting or otherwise injure someone.