Federal Lawsuit Looking to Overturn SAFE Act Filed
The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association filed a lawsuit Thursday in federal court, looking to overturn the New York SAFE Act.
The SAFE Act bans certain guns classified by the state as "assault weapons," and also limits ammunition to no more than seven bullets in most gun magazines.
Assemblyman Bill Nojay and realtor Thomas Galvin are listed in the lawsuit. The president of Beikirch's Ammunition of East Rochester is also included. According to court papers, Beikirch's is considering a permanent move to Pennsylvania due to declining sales in the wake of the SAFE Act.
The suit also challenges the law requiring private gun owners to go through dealers to sell weapons to another state. Plaintiffs claim that is a violation of the federal commerce clause.
"There were a number of items listed in there, including a prohibition on banning any single type of firearm, and that's what this law essentially does, ban a class of a firearms, so we're going to see if the courts feel that way as well," said Tom King, NYS Rifle and Pistol Association president.
Supporters of the SAFE Act believe the law is a reasonable approach to addressing gun violence and say it is necessary to take deadly weapons out of the wrong hands.