Police in New York have determined that 2,822 guns used in crimes in the state were bought in Georgia, and 2,711 of that number were handguns. Between the years of 2010 and 2015, The Peach State’s weapon contribution amounted to 13% of the total out-of-state guns used in New York.
This information prompted New York’s attorney general to ask for “federal legislation to mandate background checks on all purchases at gun shows and for state laws to require permits for handgun buyers.” He feels that lax laws in other states have facilitated much of the violent crimes in New York.
In Georgia, gun laws such as the type the attorney general desires are not likely to occur. Georgia police officers cannot ask a gun-toting person if he or she has a carry permit, and open carry is allowed in certain public places. Kennesaw and Nelson, cities in Georgia, even require residents to own guns with some exceptions.
In New York, however, gun regulations are more stringent. Their laws prohibit assault weapons, disallow selling high-capacity magazines, and require background checks for any firearms transactions. The state will provide licenses to those who have purchased their weapons legally.
According to the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, New York’s attorney general feels that the state’s laws have reduced access to handguns, the weapon most commonly used in their violent crimes. He stated that “the ready availability of these guns in states without these protections thwarts New York’s efforts to keep its citizens safe.”