NEW YORK – Governor Kathy Hochul of New York revealed her plans to enhance the state’s gun laws after the Buffalo shooting.
Allegedly the announcement was to take place prior to the shooting.
Due to the events that took place in Buffalo, Hochul is placing a much stronger emphasis on how weapons are being purchased.
Payton Gendron, the 18-year-old suspect in the shooting, allegedly purchased his weapons legally and made modifications to the firearms that are considered illegal in New York, where gun laws are already some of the strictest in the country.
District Attorney Michael Korchak of Broome County, New York, said that Gendron was taking an online class when he:
“Made some disturbing comments about murder and suicide.
[Gendron] indicated he was just joking and said L-O-L.
He said the teacher still reported the incident to the police.”
Gendron was not on campus when he made the comments, so state police arrived at his home to question him, but Gendron “indicated that this was a joke,” said DA Korchack.
Korchack said the state police brought Gendron to Binghamton General Hospital. There he received a psychiatric evaluation. He added that Gendron did stay stay overnight at the hospital but was cleared.
“This defendant had been interviewed by a mental health professional and professional who deemed him to be not dangerous or not at risk.
[Gendron] was released to the custody of his parents and returned home.
He was actually cleared and went back to school and participated in his high school graduation.
The unfortunate thing is the New York State Police, school officials and mental health professionals, they don’t have a crystal ball.
They can’t read into the future.
They can only evaluate the subject on the information that they had at that time.”
DA Korchak added that a review of the incident revealed that it was handled “appropriately.”
Governor Hochul is seeking to firm up “red flag behavior”.
She is now requiring the state police indicate an “extreme risk” order of protection when they come into contact with anyone they think is a risk to themselves or others.
Gendron did not have a red flag against him when he purchased his firearm.
At the request of Hochul, New York State Attorney General Letitia James will investigate “the online resources that were used to amplify the acts and intentions of Payton Gendron.”
A letter obtained by ABC News said:
“The investigation should be directed at those platforms that may have been used to stream, promote or plan the event including, but not limited to Twitch (owned by Amazon) 4chan, 8chan and Discord.”
According to law enforcement, the shooting was allegedly live-streamed on Twitch.
Gendron allegedly posted details of the attack online using Discord and posted on 4chan and 8chan.
Governor Hochul commented:
“Think about all the people who saw the livestream.
The virus spreads and they find others to share their worldview, radicalizing others.”
New York State Attorney General Letitia James remarked:
“The terror attack in Buffalo has once again revealed the depths and danger of the online forums that spread and promote hate.
The fact that an individual can post detailed plans to commit such an act of hate without consequence, and then stream it for the world to see is bone-chilling and unfathomable.”
A spokesperson from Discord said:
“We extend our deepest sympathies to the victims and their families.
Hate and violence have no place on Discord.
We are doing everything we can to assist law enforcement in the investigation.”
Governor Hochul is creating a new domestic terrorism unit within the state Department of Homeland Security. It will find ways to combat the “threat of guns” and “racially motivated violence”.
Prior to the Buffalo shooting, New York saw a rise in illegal gun possession.
Under consideration are proposals that include having local law enforcement file a report to a federal database of recovered weapons. Also, allowing state-conducted background checks would be part of the proposed changes.
https://www.lawenforcementtoday.com/governor-of-new-york-reveals-new-gun-law-proposals/
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