New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo Suggests Confiscation As Potential Gun Control Measure

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo isn’t making any friends among gun rights advocates. In a speech that will likely enrage many legal gun owners, Cuomo suggested Friday afternoon that the state should consider all gun control options including “confiscation” of “assault” weapons or “mandatory sales to the state” and “permitting.”

Cuomo told Albany’s WGDJ-AM that while gun control hasn’t been on his mind for a while, the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut has made the issue more relevant than ever. He explicitly stated that he would like to look at an assault weapons and high-capacity magazines ban. Thus far, Cuomo said, New York’s laws regarding guns have “more holes than Swiss cheese.”

Echoing other gun control advocates in recent days, Cuomo said: “I don’t think legitimate sportsmen are going to say, ‘I need an assault weapon to go hunting.’ ”

“I understand the rights of gun owners; I understand the rights of hunters,” Cuomo added.

Still, the governor seems willing to pursue what some may consider drastic courses of action to keep assault weapons out of the hands of New Yorkers. “Confiscation could be an option. Mandatory sale to the state could be an option. Permitting could be an option — keep your gun but permit it,” he said.

Though Cuomo didn’t exactly outline anything specific, and The Washington Examiner notes that even the term “assault weapon” needs a clearer definition, his idea of “confiscation” specifically will likely enrage gun rights advocates.

Still, he won’t be doing anything about it terribly soon. “The only thing that’s going to happen in the next few days is Christmas,” he said.

Mediaite notes that the state legislature will “likely debate new gun-related laws after the governor introduces the thought in his upcoming State of the State address on January 9th, 2013.”

Here’s New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on gun control and gun confiscation: