Gregory Kielma • February 11, 2026
Why New York’s Gun Laws Fail Responsible Americans
Why New York’s Gun Laws Fail Responsible Americans
By Gregory Kielma Owner & Lead Instructor, Tactical K Training Parrish, Florida
02/11/26
New York’s gun laws are often praised by politicians as “the model” for the rest of the country. But anyone who understands firearms, safety, and the realities of lawful gun ownership can see the truth: these laws don’t make people safer. They make ordinary, responsible Americans vulnerable to prosecution, confusion, and danger.
From my perspective as a firearms instructor, New York’s approach isn’t just misguided, it’s fundamentally broken.
Let's Take a LOOK
1. The Laws Are Designed for Confusion, Not Clarity
A responsible gun owner should be able to read the law, understand it, and comply with it. New York makes that nearly impossible.
The rules change depending on:
• Where you are standing
• What county you’re in
• Whether you’re in a “sensitive location”
• Whether a judge feels like issuing a permit
• Whether the state decides your training is “good enough” this month
This isn’t public safety. It’s a legal trap.
When a state’s laws are so convoluted that even attorneys struggle to interpret them, the average traveler or gun owner doesn’t stand a chance. And that’s exactly how New York likes it.
2. The State Treats Law Abiding Citizens Like Criminals
New York’s laws don’t target violent offenders—they target the people who follow the rules.
We’ve seen countless cases where:
• Travelers legally transporting firearms under federal law are arrested anyway
• People with no criminal history are charged for simple paperwork mistakes
• Visitors who declare firearms at airports (as required by federal law) are handcuffed on the spot
Meanwhile, the individuals actually committing violent crimes aren’t walking into airports declaring their guns. They’re not applying for permits. They’re not taking safety classes. They’re not following any law.
New York’s system punishes the compliant and ignores the criminal.
3. The Permit System Is Arbitrary and Politicized
A constitutional right should never depend on whether a local official “feels” you deserve it. Yet in New York, that’s exactly how it works.
Even after the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision, the state continues to drag its feet, invent new restrictions, and create new hoops for citizens to jump through. The message is clear: they’re not interested in safety—they’re interested in control.
When a right becomes a privilege granted by the government, it stops being a right at all.
4. The Laws Ignore Reality and Endanger the Public
New York lawmakers operate from a fantasy where:
• Criminals obey gun free zones
• More restrictions equal more safety
• A piece of paper stops violence
• A permit holder is somehow a threat
But in the real world—the world I train people for—violence doesn’t wait for permission slips. Criminals don’t care about signage. And the only people disarmed by these laws are the ones who were never a threat to begin with.
By stripping responsible citizens of the ability to defend themselves, New York creates victims, not safety.
5. The State Refuses to Respect Federal Protections
Federal law—specifically the Firearm Owners’ Protection Act—was designed to protect travelers transporting firearms legally. New York routinely ignores it.
This creates a dangerous precedent:
• A state can nullify federal protections
• A traveler can be arrested for following federal rules
• A constitutional right can vanish at a state line
No American should have to fear arrest simply for traveling with legally owned property.
6. The Laws Create a False Sense of Security
Politicians love to point to strict gun laws as proof they’re “doing something.” But the data doesn’t support the idea that New York’s approach reduces violent crime.
What these laws actually do is:
• Give the public a false sense of safety
• Allow politicians to claim victory without solving real problems
• Divert attention from the actual causes of violence
Safety comes from education, responsibility, and accountability—not from punishing the people who already follow the rules.
Kielma’s Parting Shot
New York’s gun laws aren’t just bad policy—they’re dangerous policy. They criminalize responsible Americans, ignore constitutional protections, and leave good people defenseless while doing nothing to deter violent criminals.
As an instructor, I see every day how much effort responsible gun owners put into safety, training, and compliance. These are not the people New York should be targeting. Yet they are the ones paying the price.
Until New York stops treating the Second Amendment as optional, its laws will continue to fail the very citizens they claim to protect.
Gregg Kielma
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