Politics & Government

Suffolk Notebook: Legislators Eye New Gun Safety Measure

Legislature scheduled to vote Tuesday on bill that would allow seizure of weapons from involuntary psychiatric patients.

The Suffolk County Legislature at its March 5 meeting will consider a new gun safety measure aimed at keeping weapons out of the hands of involuntary psychiatric patients. 

The legislature's Public Safety Committee passed legislation Thursday that mandates law enforcement officials crosscheck the names and addresses of individuals transported to Stony Brook University's Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program against the county's pistol license registries.

If there is a match, law enforcement is allowed to investigate and suspend or revoke the individual's license, possibly seizing their gun.

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Legis. Kara Hahn, D-Setauket, proposed the bill after the recent school shooting in Newtown, Conn., and movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado. 

"This is a simple connect the dots measure," Hahn said during the committee's deliberations. "This is not a knee-jerk reaction to the recent mass shootings; this is a logical step. We are focusing in on the ones who have been identified as a threat to themselves or others." 

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If adopted, the bill would codify the county's informal policy and could expand its use in areas outside Suffolk County's Police District. 

Suffolk looks to limit sales of energy drinks

Suffolk County legislators will hold two public hearings this week on bills that propose limiting the availability of energy drinks. 

Newsday reports that Legis. William Spencer, D-Centerport, has proposed two bills banning the distribution of energy drinks at county parks and beaches, and banning free samples of energy drinks from being given to minors. 

Suffolk health advocates are pushing for stronger regulations. The Suffolk County Board of Health in November requested lawmakers consider implementing legislation to ban the sale of energy drinks to anyone under age 19. 

Spencer said he initially supported an age restriction on energy drink sales, but said it would be difficult to define energy drinks in a way that would exclude soda and coffee. 


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