States’ Rights Cut Both Ways: How Federal Rollbacks Could Undermine New York’s Strict Gun Laws

A Two-Way Street for States’ Rights

New York has long prided itself on maintaining some of the strictest gun laws in the nation. But despite these rigorous regulations, the state faces a persistent and costly crisis: gun trafficking. In 2023, a staggering 81% of crime guns traced in New York originated out of state. Within New York City alone, 93% of recovered firearms between 2017 and 2023 were first sold elsewhere—more than triple the national average. Law enforcement has dubbed the well-worn route up Interstate 95 the "Iron Pipeline," with Georgia, Virginia, and South Carolina consistently topping the list of source states.

Washington’s Regulatory Rollback

Now, New York is bracing for the impact of shifting federal policies that could further weaken state-level gun safety efforts. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) recently proposed a rule allowing dealers to complete background checks online rather than in person. While this shortcut was historically reserved for states with strict permitting systems that already vet buyers through government officials, the new proposal opens the door for less regulated states to bypass in-person vetting entirely.

Compounding the issue, a recent Department of Justice memo declared the century-old federal ban on mailing handguns unconstitutional. Following this legal shift, the U.S. Postal Service has proposed allowing dealers to ship firearms directly to buyers’ homes for the first time since 1927. Advocacy groups like Everytown for Gun Safety warn that these oversight rollbacks will likely embolden criminal networks to continue funneling illegal weapons into vulnerable communities.

The Shield Law Parallel

This dynamic mirrors a familiar political battle New York has fought on another front. Just as New York uses its telehealth shield law to protect physicians who mail abortion medication to restrictive states, the same principle of state sovereignty applies here. When Louisiana indicted a New York doctor for mailing abortion pills and Texas secured a civil judgment, Governor Kathy Hochul refused extradition or enforcement, citing the shield law both times.

The structure is identical: one jurisdiction hollowing out another’s regulatory framework. Whether it’s abortion pills heading south or firearms heading north, the outcome undermines local self-government and public safety initiatives. If federal deregulation weakens the very laws New York fought to pass, residents must recognize that states’ rights are indeed a two-way street.