Retailers to Post Public Safety Images about Hazards of Gun Ownership
The Westchester County Board of Legislators tonight unanimously passed the Visual Gun Warning Law, requiring firearm retailers display images showing dangers associated with gun ownership, making Westchester second in the nation to adopt such a measure.
Under the new bill, wherever firearms are sold in Westchester County, striking public safety images must be posted alongside written notices already mandated under a 2022 County law. The enhanced warnings must also be given to anyone applying for a gun license in the County.
The Westchester County Department of Health will develop or approve the visual additions to existing signage that highlights the increased risks of suicide, domestic violence, homicide, and accidental shootings associated with keeping a gun in the home. Warnings also include contact information for the County’s Crisis Prevention and Response Team and the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Penalties for non-compliant retailers will remain unchanged under existing law: a $250 fine for first violations and, for subsequent offenses, a $500 fine and potential misdemeanor charges.
Research on tobacco safety campaigns suggests that visual messaging can be more effective than text alone in raising awareness and influencing behavior. Advocates say such imagery can more clearly and immediately communicate the dangers associated with gun ownership and unsafe storage practices.
Board Chairman Vedat Gashi (D–New Castle, Ossining, Somers, Yorktown) said, “Prevention starts with awareness, and these visual warnings are meant to make serious hazards clear, immediate, and unforgettable. I want to thank all of my colleagues, advocates, and community partners who worked so hard to pass this legislation. Preventing even one accidental shooting, suicide, or deadly act of violence would make this effort worthwhile.”
Legislator David T. Imamura (D–Ardsley, Dobbs Ferry, Edgemont, Hartsdale, Hastings-on-Hudson, Irvington), said, “They say a picture is worth a thousand words. In this case, a picture can save lives. I am proud to sponsor a bill that will make Westchester County second in the nation to enact a visual gun safety law. We need to show the dangers associated with firearms and ensure gun owners understand the importance of safe practices. This law will help keep Westchester residents safe.”
Majority Whip Shanae Williams (D–Yonkers), a member of the Westchester County Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, said, “Graphic warning labels save lives because they force us to confront the devastating reality of gun violence before tragedy strikes. Just as warning labels on cigarettes helped educate the public about the dangers of smoking, this bill ensures that residents of Westchester County are fully informed about the risks firearms pose to individuals, families, and communities. I am proud to be a co-sponsor and I am thankful for the Westchester Gun Violence Prevention Task Force members who advocated and supported this law.”
Lindsay Nichols, Policy Director, Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, said, “They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Ensuring that gun buyers really understand the dangers of having a gun could help prevent many tragedies before they happen. That’s why we applaud this proposal to educate gun store customers about the true potential of their choice to bring a firearm into their home.”
Barry S. Graubart, NYS Advocacy Lead, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of the Everytown for Gun Safety networksaid, “For years, gunmakers have sold the idea that bringing a gun into the home makes a family safer. The data tells a very different story. A written notice is important but an enhanced warning for buyers here in Westchester will have a more significant impact.”
Prior to the vote, gun violence prevention advocates from Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, and several members of the Westchester County Gun Violence Prevention Task Force joined legislators at a press conference in the Legislative Rotunda to express support for the legislation. Participants included Chairman Vedat Gashi, Vice Chair Terry Clements, Majority Leader Judah Holstein, Majority Whip Shanae Williams, Legislators Erika L. Pierce, Jenn Puja, Anant Nambiar, Jewel Williams Johnson, Emiljana Ulaj, David T. Imamura, David J. Tubiolo, and José I. Alvarado.
Hear what legislators and gun safety advocates say about this bill. Watch the press conference replay on YouTube.
View Monday’s Board meeting and 17–0 vote. The replay will be posted here when available.