Brooklyn – State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn) is announcing that he has introduced legislation, S. 7839, that seeks to enhance the public safety of all New Yorkers, by increasing penalties for the sharing, availability, sale, exchange, giving or disposal of a “community gun” so to be used to commit crimes and intimidate others.

The bill would provide prosecutors greater ability to attach criminal liability to all those responsible for sharing or making available a community gun and prosecute acts as a Class D Felony. The legislation would make the unlawful sale or transfer of a firearm, that intentionally causes the death of another person, within a three year period, a Class B Felony.

Senator Marty Golden stated, “Law enforcement experts have reported that the use of community guns is on the rise, yet those who are making these illegal guns available, are not being held accountable. We must advance our laws here in New York to halt this pattern in order to keep our streets safer and protect our citizens.”

Golden continued, “By sharing a gun, or leaving it in an accessible location, the safety of all is jeopardized. This legislation will discourage the criminal practice of a “community gun” and at the same time, make safer the residents of New York State.”

Assemblywoman Barbara Clark (D-Queens) is considering Assembly sponsor.