Free Talk Live

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Tuesday signed into law a new package of gun regulations intended to fortify New York's existing assault weapons ban, limit the number of bullets in magazines and strengthen rules that keep the mentally ill from owning firearms. The regulations are the nation's first since last month's massacre in Newtown, Connecticut, where a gunman killed 27 people, including 20 young children at an elementary school. Cuomo, a self-described gun owner, said the tragedy had spurred lawmakers to action and called the legislation a "common sense" measure.

The Republican majority in the State Senate is not satisfied with a proposal by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to decriminalize the open possession of small amounts of marijuana and will not pass it in its current form, the chamber’s top lawmaker said Wednesday.

Activists involved in the state-wide boycott against the unconstitutional statute who spoke to the Post almost taunted authorities, saying gun owners would essentially dare authorities to “come and take it away.”

A new state law is making it a felony to assault a city sanitation worker.Sponsors of the bill say the city's garbage haulers face potential harassment for simply doing their jobs and some have been assaulted.The law provides sanitation workers with the same protection as police officers and firefighters and includes stiffer penalties for those who attack the workers.Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the bill Friday, and it will take effect 30 days from then.

“The ISRA has learned from a credible source that Illinois Senate President John Cullerton [above] will introduce a so called ‘assault weapons’ ban on Wednesday when the legislature returns for its ‘lame duck’ session. Cullerton hopes to ramrod the bill through and get it to Governor Quinn for signature by Friday. If he is successful at doing so, nearly every gun you currently own will be banned and will be subject to confiscation by the Illinois State Police..."

"The government says the public should stay away from free New York fuel stations until emergency responders get their gas."

"Long lines of vehicles and pedestrians formed after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the U.S. Department of Defense was opening the mobile fuel stations in New York City and on suburban Long Island.

The state Division of Military and Naval Affairs then asked the public to stay away until more fuel is released."

U.S. District Judge Robert Jones said the state's decades-old ballot alternative of "none of the above" was unconstitutional because votes for "none" don't count in the final tallies that determine winners. A federal lawsuit filed in June and bankrolled by the Republican National Committee argued Nevada's unique voter option, which has appeared on every election ballot for statewide races since 1976, disenfranchises voters because it's a perpetual loser. Under state law, even if "none" receives the most votes, it doesn't win.

"Idaho State Representative Phil Hart authored the Idaho State Silver Gem Act earlier this year which allows for the Idaho State Treasurer to issue silver medallions and make them available to the public; people may use them for any purpose they want and will have the option of paying their State taxes with the silver."

WEAPONS such as knuckledusters, flick knives and stun guns would become much harder to import under a re-elected Gillard government.

Switching the election focus to law and order, Labor will release a list of 22 weapons it will effectively ban.

Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor told the Herald Sun it would help make streets safer.

"It will mean fewer fatalities and injuries by knives and other weapons," he said.