The July 28 shooting in Midtown Manhattan left four people dead, including NYPD Officer Didarul Islam. Spectrum News host Errol Louis opened his interview with Governor Kathy Hochul by laying out the horror of the event.
According to Louis, NYPD detectives traced the rifle to a private sale in Nevada. The suspect, Shane Tamura, had a history of mental illness, a suicide note, and psychiatric medication in his apartment. This crime, Louis said, has shaken the city’s sense of security despite its rarity – New York City hasn’t seen a mass shooting like this in 25 years.
Hochul Calls for Other States to Follow New York
During her Spectrum News interview, Governor Hochul argued that more states should adopt laws modeled after New York’s. “We have the toughest gun laws in the nation,” Hochul said. She credited those laws for New York’s low firearm homicide rate compared to other large states. Hochul stressed that while New York has banned assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and uses red flag laws to remove thousands of firearms from dangerous individuals, these efforts can be undermined by laxer laws in other states.
“As Long as Borders Are Open, We Are Not Safe”
Hochul explained that the ability to drive across state lines means dangerous weapons can still reach New York. “As long as other states do it and someone can cross our state lines by simply getting into a vehicle, we are not safe,” she told Spectrum News. Her argument is that a uniform system of strict gun laws would prevent this kind of tragedy, especially when combined with a national ban on assault weapons similar to the one that existed between 1994 and 2004.
CNN: Assault Weapons as the Focus
On CNN, Hochul spoke to Manu Raju about the same attack. Raju confirmed that the gunman carried an M4 rifle and that he intended to reach the NFL headquarters but was blocked by an elevator system. Hochul’s message was blunt: “This is happening because there are still assault weapons in our country.” She added that the suspect came from a state with looser gun laws, a problem she said New York alone cannot solve.
National Laws vs. Patchwork Rules
Hochul told CNN that New York has “the lowest homicide rate by guns in the nation for large states” because of its strict laws. She also argued that this safety is weakened by other states with looser rules, like Nevada. “If every state had the same laws uniformly, you could not have a situation,” she said. Her statement points to what she sees as a clear connection between differences in laws and the ability of violent individuals to carry out attacks across state lines.
Echoes of Buffalo
Hochul brought up the 2022 Buffalo grocery store mass shooting. She said that after ten people were killed there, New York tightened its laws further, raising the age for certain firearm purchases and expanding red flag protections. “I don’t want to be having my residents affected by someone coming from another state that easily gets their hands on this assault weapon,” she told CNN.
A Voice from the Campaign Trail
Reuters reported that Zohran Mamdani, a New York mayoral candidate, called the shooting a warning about gaps in federal policy. “We are reminded that no matter how strong our gun laws are in this state, we are only as safe as the weakest laws in this nation,” Mamdani said at a press conference honoring Officer Islam. He echoed Hochul’s demand for a nationwide assault rifle ban, calling it “horrifying” that someone with documented mental health issues was able to buy a weapon with such destructive capacity.
Guns & Gadgets Fires Back
The YouTube channel Guns & Gadgets, hosted by Jared Yanis, gave a very different take on Hochul’s calls. In a recent video, Yanis accused Hochul of using tragedy to push “misinformation, fear-mongering, and a complete disregard for our constitutional rights.” According to Yanis, even the FBI reported that the 1994 assault weapons ban didn’t lower crime. He argued that criminals already ignore laws and that passing more restrictions punishes only law-abiding gun owners.
The Debate Over Data
Yanis criticized Hochul’s claims that strict laws in New York make people safer. He pointed out that rifles of the type used in this incident account for fewer than 3% of gun homicides nationwide. In his view, more regulation does not prevent crime; instead, it “turns law-abiding citizens into felons overnight” through bans based on cosmetic features rather than function. His commentary reflects a common argument among gun rights supporters that focuses on personal responsibility rather than federal bans.
Political Courage or Political Overreach?
In her CNN interview, Hochul said, “I’m looking for political courage. I’m looking for people to stand up for the people of this nation and say, enough is enough.” She criticized both parties for not reinstating a ban on semi-automatic rifles despite past Democratic control of Congress. To Hochul, the lack of a nationwide solution is a failure of leadership. To Jared Yanis, this is overreach disguised as public safety.
The Clash Between State and Federal Power
This debate exposes a fundamental tension. States like New York want control over who can bring firearms within their borders, yet the reality of open interstate travel makes that nearly impossible without national legislation. Hochul’s statements show frustration with Congress, while voices like Yanis insist that local governance and individual freedom should remain untouched. It’s fascinating how one event in one city sparks a debate that pulls in the whole country.
The Broader Meaning of “Safe”
What stands out most is how differently safety is defined by the people in these sources. To Hochul and Mamdani, safety means limiting weapon access with tighter laws. To Yanis and other gun rights advocates, safety comes from preserving rights and ensuring individuals can defend themselves. These two definitions clash, and the gap between them only widens after tragedies like this one.
A Call That Will Not Go Away
While the investigation into the Midtown shooting continues, one thing is clear: Governor Hochul’s push for other states to adopt New York-style gun laws is not a one-time reaction. She has made it a priority, and voices like Mamdani are ready to support her. Meanwhile, critics like Jared Yanis promise to resist such measures, arguing that no law will stop those determined to harm others. This conversation will stay alive well after the last headline fades.
UP NEXT: “Heavily Armed” — See Which States Are The Most Strapped
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Americans have long debated the role of firearms, but one thing is sure — some states are far more armed than others. See where your state ranks in this new report on firearm ownership across the U.S.
The article Should more states adopt N.Y. gun laws? Gov. Hochul says yes. first appeared on Survival World.
Mark grew up in the heart of Texas, where tornadoes and extreme weather were a part of life. His early experiences sparked a fascination with emergency preparedness and homesteading. A father of three, Mark is dedicated to teaching families how to be self-sufficient, with a focus on food storage, DIY projects, and energy independence. His writing empowers everyday people to take small steps toward greater self-reliance without feeling overwhelmed.
