New York's Legislature has passed the nation's toughest gun control law and the first since the Newtown, Connecticut, school shooting.

The measure calls for a tougher assault weapons ban and provisions to try to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill who make threats.
   
Governor Andrew Cuomo pushed hard for the legislation. He signed it into law Tuesday afternoon..
   
The measure calls for restrictions on ammunition and the sale of guns.

It subjects private sale of assault weapons to someone other than an immediate family member to a background check.
   
Also, a therapist or other caregiver who believes a mental health patient made a credible threat to use a gun illegally would have to report it to a mental health director who must notify the state.

A patient's gun could be confiscated.

The north country's Republican lawmakers, Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, Senator Patty Ritchie and Senator Joe Griffo voted against the bill.

Immediately after the Legislature approved the measure, Democratic Assemblywoman Addie Russell, who voted in favor of the bill, issued the following written statement:

"Today the Assembly passed several key measures that were in my proposed enhancement to Mark's Law, which increases penalties for persons who kill first responders: our firefighters and EMTs, addressing irresponsible handling of weapons, and requiring limiting access to weapons by the mentally unstable and others that are not permitted to possess guns.  The bill also limits pistol permit information available to the public." 

"I believe that today, in passing the Mark's Law provisions, we are honoring our commitment to our first responders. By passing measures to keep guns out of the hands of those that tend to target our volunteers and children, we are honoring all our first responders and the memories of those that have died needlessly including Mark Davis."

Mark's Law was named after Mark Davis, the Cape Vincent emergency medical technician who was shot and killed while responding to a call.

See our story about reaction from sportsmen about the law.

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