ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - New York's top prosecutors are proposing new state laws they say will help curb gun crimes across the state.
In letters to the governor and legislative leaders, the District Attorneys Association advocates amending mental health laws, imposing stiffer penalties for gun crimes, banning all high-capacity magazines and restricting large quantity sales of firearms and ammunition.
The association, which includes all of the 62 counties' chief prosecutors, says criminal activity becomes exponentially more volatile when guns are present.
The group backs imposing a mandatory consecutive 5-year sentence when a person commits a violent felony or drug crime while possessing a gun, require periodic renewals of handgun permits in every county and expressly authorize courts to remove guns and revoke licenses of people found mentally incapacitated.
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Democratic Assemblyman Vito Lopez, who represents New York City, said he will resign June 20 amid a sexual harassment scandal and run for a City Council seat.
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