Gov. Andrew Cuomo Signs Red Flag Gun Control Bill Into Law

On Monday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the Red Flag Bill into law.

The Red Flag Bill, also known as the extreme risk protection order bill, prevents people who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing any kind of firearm, officials say.

"The United States loses more people to gun deaths than most developed nations/ The first year of President Trump's administration, we lost 40,000 people to gun deaths - the highest number in 50 years. New York led the way by passing the strongest gun safety laws in the nation, but more must be done to end this carnage," Governor Cuomo said. "Today New York is proud to pass the first-in-the-nation Red Flag Bill that empowers school teachers to do something when they believe something bad is going to happen. We are empowering teachers not by giving them guns like the President wants - but by arming and empowering them with the law, so when a teacher or family member sees there is a problem, they can go to a judge and get a court-ordered evaluation. The Red Flag Bill will save lives and doesn't infringe on anybody's rights and it is common sense."

The bill will allow teachers, school administrators and family members to report to a judge if they believe someone poses a threat to society. The judge will then evaluate and determine whether the person's guns should be taken away.

"These bills are bold and far-reaching, containing strong, comprehensive solutions to save lives and end the crisis of senseless gun violence in America," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. "Leaders in the State House and in the U.S. House must continue to work together to ensure that no other family is forced to endure the tragedy and heartbreak of gun violence, whether in our schools, in our places of worship, on our streets or in any place."

The law makes New York the first in the United States to empower teachers and school administrators to prevent school shootings by pursuing court intervention, according to the Governor's Office.