NY gun reform vote would ban bump stocks, arming teachers in classroom

Dozens gathered inside the Oceanside Library Saturday ahead of a state Assembly vote on gun reform that could bring about a ban on bumpstocks and arming teachers in the classroom.

Attendees listened as Linda Biegel-Schulman, mother of Parkland shooting victim Scott Biegel, of Dix Hills, shared her story and support for the package of reform bills.

“New York is my home so if I'm going to make a difference and go full speed ahead,” she said. "I'm not going to mourn my son's death. I'm going to celebrate his life. I'm going to make my son proud."

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State Sen. Todd Kaminsky introduced the bill because he says he couldn't stand by after hearing the horror of mass shootings across the country.

"When I saw that the response was to arm teachers, I just thought that was crazy and dangerous and takes our focus off where it needs to be, which is taking dangerous weapons out of the hands of dangerous people," said Sen. Kaminsky.

The legislation will include a ban on bump stocks, a ban on arming teachers with weapons and a "red flag" provision, which will allow for a judge to block a person deemed dangerous from having a gun. Bump stocks allow semi-automatic weapons to fire continuously.

News 12 reached out to representatives for the Republican Senate Conference, which includes Suffolk state Sen. John Flanagan. News 12 was told that Flanagan hasn't yet reviewed the bill.

"We are going to review each bill in preparation for Tuesday's session," they said in a statement.

As the anniversary of the Parkland shooting nears, Biegel-Schulman vows to continue to fight for reform here at home and across the country.

Both the state Assembly and the Senate are expected to vote on gun reform legislation on Tuesday.