The US state of New York has rolled out a novel strategy to screen applicants for gun permits that requires people seeking to carry concealed handguns to hand over their social media accounts for a review of their “character and conduct”.
The new requirement is to take effect in September and was included in a law passed last week that sought to preserve some limits on firearms after the Supreme Court ruled that most people have a right to carry a handgun for personal protection. It was also signed by Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, who noted shooters sometimes publicise their intent to hurt others online.
