New York City residents and visitors to the infamous Times Square in Manhattan are greeted by newly erected “Gun Free Zone” signs.
Times Square is one of a slew of new “sensitive” locations where guns are being banned. City officials were putting up the signs on Wednesday in anticipation of a new state law going into effect Thursday that restricts where guns may be carried in public.
Here’s what you need to know about the new rules:
What does the law say?
New York’s law says residents applying for concealed carry permits have to complete 16 hours of classroom training, two hours of live-fire exercises and provide a list of three years’ worth of their social media accounts for a “character and conduct” review.
They are also restricted from bringing guns to scores of areas deemed “sensitive.”
What places will be affected?
“Sensitive” public locations include government buildings, schools, churches, subways, theaters, amusement parks and Times Square, among others. People carrying a gun can enter only private businesses from which they have permission, such as by a sign posted in a window.
The law, and the presence of the new signs, also has people debating what exactly are the boundaries for Times Square. The New York Times — the namesake of the tourist attraction — reported some residents and business owners thought the city’s proposal of map boundaries for Times Square was too expansive, going beyond the area of bright lights and huge stores typically associated with it.
Where did the law come from?
Earlier this summer the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a New York law that required gun owners to have “proper cause” for a permit to carry a handgun. In response, the state passed a sweeping new law that restricts where guns may be carried in public.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the new law was passed because the high court’s ruling “destroyed the ability for a governor to be able to protect her citizens from people who carry concealed weapons anywhere they choose.”
New York was among a half-dozen states that had parts of their gun laws invalidated by the Supreme Court decision. California, Massachusetts, and New Jersey all swiftly ushered in new gun rules, while Hawaii is also weighing its options.
How do gun owners move around?
Critics say the list of places off-limits to guns makes it hard for gun owners to move about anywhere in public at all. The new restrictions allow for licensed gun owners to take specific steps to move through restricted areas like Times Square, however.
People who live or work within the restricted Times Square boundaries can carry handguns with a permit when traveling without stopping at a destination where licensed concealed carry is allowed, ABC reported.
Contributing: The Associated Press