As Cuomo Vows to Get Tough, Corbett Signs Gun Control Bill

Yesterday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo vowed to establish the toughest assault weapons ban in the country, while Chris Christie re-iterated his potential support for such a ban (if paired with the right conditions) earlier in the week. Meanwhile, Tom Corbett of all people, who doesn’t want to close the gun-show loophole, and is unwilling to talk about banning assault weapons, is the one actually signing a gun control bill. Today, he put some fresh ink on legislation that sharply penalizes unauthorized buyers who purchase weapons from “straw purchasers.” Though the signing was ceremonial (Corbett first signed it in October) it’s a good reminder that the Republican governor isn’t as extreme on gun rights as other conservatives. The bill would establish a mandatory five-year minimum sentence for people who repeatedly buy weapons from a middleman, because they themselves aren’t allowed to. [Delco Times]