Lawmakers give final approval to gun control bills PUBLISHED 5:10 AM ET Jun. 09, 2021 PUBLISHED 5:10 AM EDT Jun. 09, 2021 SHARE The Democratic-led houses of the state Legislature on Tuesday gave final approval to a package of gun control measures that are broadly meant to halt the flow of illegal weapons into New York. Gun rights advocates have knocked the measures as doing little to aid public safety at a time when shootings are up in cities across New York, saying lawmakers are simply trying to distract from the rise in crime. The bills add to New York's already stringent gun laws, tackling a long-standing concern that the state can do little stem the tide of firearms across their borders that are not as tightly regulated as other states.