Last week the NYS Assembly passed a slew of new firearms bills that are destined to upset the many upstate residents if they’re passed by the Senate and become law. All the bills passed were introduced and sponsored by downstate politicians, the majority of them living in either New York City or Long Island. In a nutshell, the bills primarily duplicate many current firearms laws already in force in the Big Apple and on Long Island.

One bill requires the re-licensing and recertification of firearms permits after five years. Another would ban the sale, use or possession of 50-caliber or larger weapons, and creates a program to recall those currently legally owned. Supposedly, muzzleloaders and shotguns larger than .410 gauges would be exempt. We’ll see if that holds up if it ever is “interpreted” differently by an appeals court ruling.