Hochul Uses Progressive Agenda to Expand Gun Control and Target Law-abiding Owners

Governor Kathy Hochul has signed yet another gun control measure into law, drawing sharp criticism from Republicans who view her as aggressively advancing progressive policies at the expense of lawful gun owners.

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Michelle Hinchey, D-Saugerties, expands New York’s temporary extreme risk protection order known as TERPO. Under the new law, courts are authorized to consider evidence of animal cruelty when deciding whether to strip an individual of their firearms. However, the level of evidentiary proof is woefully low.

Previously, judges could issue a TERPO in cases involving threats of violence, reckless firearm use, or substance abuse. Hinchey’s measure adds animal cruelty to that list, citing FBI research and findings by the National Sheriffs’ Association linking animal abuse to broader violent behavior. Hinchey framed the law as a public safety step, saying, “Animal cruelty is often a warning sign of escalating violence, and a tactic used to control victims of domestic abuse. Allowing our courts to consider animal cruelty in extreme risk protection cases can help disrupt cycles of harm and save lives.”

Supporters of the measure – including Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa, and the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence – echoed Hinchey’s talking points, portraying the law as a common-sense safeguard. Figueroa said, “This legislation recognizes the established connection between animal cruelty and domestic violence and empowers judges to consider this evidence when deciding whether to issue a TERPO. Connie Neal, the coalition’s executive director, added, “By ensuring that judges consider animal cruelty when deciding whether to issue an Extreme Risk Order of Protection, we can help prevent further harm and save lives.”

While Hochul and her allies present the legislation as a public safety victory, Republicans and Second Amendment advocates see it as another step in what they argue is the governor’s relentless push to tighten gun restrictions and expand judicial power to seize firearms. Critics point out that New York already has some of the nation’s strictest gun laws, yet Hochul continues to champion new regulations instead of addressing violent crime and recidivism.

The governor has frequently tied her political future to high-profile progressive causes, from abortion access to climate mandates, and now once again to firearms restrictions. For many Republicans, the latest law is just another example of Hochul’s using headline-driven issues to expand state control while ignoring concerns of ordinary New Yorkers who feel overregulated and unsafe.

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Hochul Uses Progressive Agenda to Expand Gun Control and Target Law-abiding Owners