GARDEN CITY, N.Y. —Gov. George Pataki on Wednesday signed into law a sweeping gun control bill that requires mandatory trigger locks, ballistic "fingerprinting" for better tracking of weapons, and background checks on buyers at gun shows.

"This is something the rest of the nation should take a look at," Pataki said. "I hope this serves as a model."

With the new law, New York becomes the first state in the nation to deal with a loophole in the federal Brady law, which requires that gun sales by federally licensed firearms deals be accompanied by a background check. Sales at gun shows now do not require such checks, however, unless the firearms are sold by a federally licensed dealer.

The new state law closes the loophole, and violators will face a misdemeanor charge and a fine of up to $10,000.

Pataki called the new law "a common-sense measure" to keep New York safer by helping keep guns out of the hands of criminals and children.

"Each year more New Yorkers are killed by guns than die in car crashes," Pataki said at the bill-signing ceremony on Long Island.

The law's centerpiece, dubbed the "Gun DNA" program by the governor, would require New York handgun dealers and manufacturers who sell to dealers in the state to submit shell casings from the test firing of guns in their inventories to the state police's forensic lab. Computerized images of the casings would serve as "fingerprints" for firearms and be kept on file.

Authorities would check the database against bullets and casings recovered at scenes of gun violence to track the guns. The barrels of guns leave telltale markings on bullets and shell casings.

The law also raises the legal age for purchasing handguns in New York State from 18 to 21, bans all assault weapons listed under a 1994 federal law, and makes it a Class D violent felony -- punishable by up to seven years in prison —to possess or sell any banned assault weapon. In addition, all stolen or lost guns must be reported to police within 24 hours of their disappearance.

Pataki stressed that the legislation is aimed at those engaged in illegal activity and not those who own guns to protect their homes and families or for hunting.

The Republican governor was joined at the news conference at the Garden City railroad station by Democratic Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, a strong advocate of stricter gun control laws ever since her husband was killed and her son critically wounded by a gunman who went on a shooting rampage on a Long Island Rail Road train in 1992.

"New York has taken a courageous stand here," McCarthy said. "Today is a victory not only for the victims of crimes but for those who have not been victims.

"I plan to hold up Governor Pataki's bill on the floor of the House and say, 'Look what can be done if we work together,' " McCarthy said. "The time has come for gun safety legislation on a national level, and New York has shown the way."

The law is effective immediately.

Catherine Murphy, a New York City police officer whose 11-year-old son was accidentally killed in 1997 by a friend playing with a gun, was present to show her support for the bill.

"It's a great day for me," Murphy said. "It means my son did not die in vain."

Copyright © 2000 Bergen Record Corp.

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Miami International Airport Firm Accused of Security Violations, lied about hiring checks, U.S. says
The Miami Herald,
December 1, 1999

U.S. says A Miami Intl Airport security firm was charged Tuesday with failing to do adequate background checks on at least 22 employees and then lying about it to federal regulators. The charges against the company raise "serious implications" about the safety of the flying public, authorities say, although there's no evidence in this case any flights were endangered.

The company faces up to $500,000 in fines and five years probation. The company's former manager now serving more than five years in federal prison after pleading guilty to 22 felony counts of giving false statements about background checks to the FAA.

Authorities believe that the manager hired whomever he pleased, didn't do the required and sometimes costly background checks, and then said he did. An Airport supervisor said that the company's employees were routinely given airport security badges and limitless access to secure areas of the airport without proper background or criminal checks.

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