LOCAL LAW "F" FOR 2022
A LOCAL LAW OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY REQUIRING ALL WEAPON AND/OR FIREARM DEALERS TO POST DISCLOSURES REGARDING SAFETY RISKS FROM FIREARMS
Introduced: 6/13/22
By Messrs. Reidy, Feeney, A. Joyce, Beston, Ms. Chapman, Messrs. Clay, Cleary, Ms. Cunningham, Messrs. Efekoro, Fein, Kuhn, Ms. Lekakis, Messrs. Mayo, Miller, Peter, Ms. Plotsky, Messrs. Reinhardt, Ricard, Ward, Ms. Willingham and Mr. Commisso:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE COUNTY OF ALBANY AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Title.
This Local Law shall be known as the "Albany County Commitment to Ensuring a Safe Society (ACCESS) Law."
SECTION 2. Legislative Intent.
The purpose of this Local Law is to provide for and promote the health, safety and welfare of the general public by specifically informing buyers and potential buyers of weapons or firearms in Albany County of the dangers of owning a weapon or firearm.
This Legislature determines that gun violence is a uniquely American problem, which continues to worsen. The United States accounts for just 4% of the world's population, but 35% of global firearm suicides and 9% of global firearm homicides. America has the weakest firearm laws and the most firearms - 393 million, more than this country's population - of any comparable nation. Americans are 25 times more likely to be killed in a firearm homicide than people in other high-income countries.
Within the last ten years, the firearm mortality rate has risen nearly 18%, with an average of 39,000 Americans dying from firearm violence each year from 2015 to 2019. Over 45,000 Americans died from firearm violence in 2020 alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that an average of 483 deaths per year are from unintentional shootings. The average number of non-fatal shooting injuries is 76,127 each year.
Studies have shown that, when a firearm is easily accessible, the risk of homicide, suicide and unintentional shootings rises dramatically. Indeed, acce...
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