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 CrisisLifeline.
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.”
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.
