BY JEFF CHUDZINSKINorth Country This Week

State lawmakers are again taking action on multiple gun control measures with the new legislative session, with senate and assembly leaders urging action on nine proposed bills. 

The legislation, which all sit in committee as of press time, would impact residents who wish to lawfully purchase firearms, as well as 3D printers and exercise their 2nd Amendment rights. 

The first, S418, would prohibit the purchase of more than one firearm during any 30 day period.

Similar laws have been proposed or passed in multiple states, most notably California, however significant legal hurdles have derailed such efforts with district courts blocking such bans.

Another bill, A2228, would require background checks be performed to purchase a 3D printer. State lawmakers say the measure would cut down on the prevalence of "ghost guns" or untraceable firearms that do not have a serial number.

A third bill, S2158, would establish a database of information related to the sale or use of micro-stamped guns. A micro-stamp is a unique code on the face of a firing pin that leaves a unique imprint on a primer when struck, allegedly allowing for easier tracing in the event of a crime.

Critics say such technology is inconsistent at best and can be defeated with the use of a hand tool in a matter of minutes, rendering the stamp indecipherable.

A second bill from Senator Brian Kavanagh, a Democrat from lower Manhattan, would allow the Division of Criminal Justice Services to certify the technological viability of "personalized handguns" and establish requirements to the related sale of such handguns.

"Personalized handguns" would incorporate programmed grips and triggers that would recognize the unique print of the owner and would only be able to fire when operated by the registered user.

Such technology is not in wide use and has also faced significant hurdles in development, leading critics to say the measure intends to keep firearms out of the hands of lawful gun owners due to the increased expense related to such technology.

Senate bill S1358 would require all pistols be equipped with a permanent "child proofing device."

"Design features could include the capacity to adjust the trigger resistance of the gun to at least a ten-pound pull, the capacity to alter the firing mechanism so that an average five-year-old child's hand would be too small to operate the gun, or the capacity to require a series of multiple motions in order to fire the gun," the bill states.

A violation of the law would be a class A misdemeanor for a first offense.

Assembly bill A437 would require suicide warning signs be required on-site at any establishment that sells, displays or delivers firearms.

Governor Hochul signed into law legislation last year that already requires such measures be taken by a licensed gun dealer, with signs required to be posted in "conspicuous locations" that can be seen by anyone entering such establishments.

Assembly bill A346 would ban individuals under the age of 21 from purchasing firearms, however such bans have largely been ruled unconstitutional by district and appellate courts, including in Louisiana, Texas and Pennsylvania.

The ninth bill, A2060, would require any firearm manufactured by a 3D printer to contain a unique identifying number and to be registered with State Police.

That bill would mirror existing laws that require gun dealers with certain licenses to serialize "ghost guns" prior to reselling them.

Each of the nine bills currently sit in committee, however Senate and Assembly leaders have signaled they intend to take up some of, if not all of the bills in the coming legislative session.

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