Sullivan Act
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The Sullivan Act is a controversial gun control law in America's largest city of New York. It dates to 1911, and is one of the older gun control laws in the U.S.
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A "may issue" act
The Sullivan Act qualifies as a may issue act, meaning the local police have discretion to issue a concealed carry permit, as opposed to a shall issue act, in which state authorities must give a concealed handgun license to any person who satisfies specific criteria, often a background check and a safety class. In practice, New York authorities rarely issue permits to anyone except retired police officers. See also: no-issue and unrestricted.
Constitutionality
The constitutionality of the act may be arguable, due to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the right of Americans to own guns and other weapons. It remains in force, constitutional arguments aside.
History
Upon first passage, the Sullivan Act required licenses for New Yorkers to own guns small enough to be concealed.
Controversy
Con:
Many believe the act was to discriminate against immigrants in New York, particularly Italians. The police granted the licenses, and could easily discriminate against "undesirable" elements.
After the law was enacted, firearm suicide went down by 40 per cent, but gun murders went up.
Pro:
Statistics showed that gun murders in New York had risen 50 percent from 1910-1911; indeed, in 1910, mayor William Jay Gaynor was shot and seriously wounded (he later died from the wound; see Timeline of New York City crimes and disasters), and there were public calls for regulation of handguns.
Final words
The law remains in effect, and remains controversial. Few private citizens in New York legally own guns.