ALBANY — Nearly every cop in the state may be carrying an illegal number of bullets in their service weapons under the rush-job gun reform pushed through by Gov. Cuomo and the Legislature.
The legislation, inspired by the Newtown school massacre, limits gun magazines to seven rounds — and doesn’t include an exemption for police, law-enforcement leaders said.
“The PBA is actively working to enact changes to this law that will provide the appropriate exemptions from the law for active and retired law-enforcement officers,” read a statement from the New York City Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association.
Lawmakers are expected to pass what is called a “chapter amendment” to the new gun law as soon as next week that would exempt active-duty cops from the ammo limit.
State Conservative Party Chairman Michael Long said the fix can’t come fast enough.
“God forbid a state trooper or cop or FBI agent got involved somehow and had to use his gun,” Long said. “I’m telling you, a Civil Liberties Union lawyer would take that cop to the mat.
“Police officers are in jeopardy right now . . . unless they take three bullets out [of a 10-round magazine]. Mind-boggling.”
Cuomo spokesman Matt Wing flatly denied that. “No police officer possessing ammunition clips with more than seven bullets is in violation of the law or guilty of any crime, period,” he said
Officials say the seven-bullet limit doesn’t take effect right away and other sections of law already exempt cops from the limit.
Retired cops say they, too, should be spared the from the limit because they’re trained to use guns to protect people.
Most retired cops carry Glocks, which typically hold factory-made magazines with as many as 17 rounds.
“Gun reform must prevent criminals and the deranged from getting illegal weapons, not restrict law-abiding retired cops from protecting themselves and the public,” said Michael Palladino, president of the New York State Association of PBAs and also head of the city’s Detectives Endowment Association.
The law was fast-tracked through the Legislature as Cuomo lifted the normally required three-day review of new bills before a vote can be held.
Assemblyman Joseph Lentol (D-Brooklyn) said he’d favor exempting retired cops — although the proposed amendment doesn’t do that.
Additional reporting by Philip Messing