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New York law asks for ‘social media audits’ before gun purchases
If state lawmakers get their way, New Yorkers wanting to buy a handgun might need to hand over their social media passwords and search history for a government ‘audit’ first.
A proposal by Brooklyn-based state Senator Kevin Parker and Borough President Eric Adams, both Democrats, would have the state government reviewing one year of Google, Bing and Yahoo search history of would-be handgun buyers.
The “social media review” would also cover three years’ worth of posts on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat, which would be scrutinized for language containing racial/gender bias, slurs, threats and terrorism, according to WKBW-TV in Buffalo.
The proposed measure has run into a hail of criticism from gun rights advocates, with several attorneys pointing out it would run afoul of the US Constitution.
Attorney James Tresmond told WKBW the act would clash with “The first, the second amendment, the fifth amendment, the fourth amendment, and the 14th amendment.”
In plain English, this ranges from the issue of freedom of speech and the right to bear arms, to the right to due process, guarantee against unreasonable search and seizure, and equal protection of the laws.
New York legislators want you to turn over years of your social media history before you purchase a firearm? What kind of police state crap is this?
