ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy issued an executive order on Tuesday that would establish an age requirement of 21 for buying a flare gun in the county. The county previously had no minimum age prerequisite to purchase flare launchers.
While designated as emergency signaling devices, the executive order addresses the potential public safety threat posed by the misuse or abuse of flare guns. The new initiative aims to limit the bodily harm and property damage that flare guns can cause by prohibiting their sale to children and young adults.
“Flare guns are meant to save lives, not endanger them. Unfortunately, over the summer, we saw too many cases where they were misused or even turned into real weapons,” McCoy stated. “Raising the purchase age to 21 is a simple, sensible step to keep people safe while still allowing responsible use. This is about prevention and protecting our communities before tragedy strikes. This is one additional tool in the tool box as we promote public safety.”
The order also cites a reported rise in cases of flare guns being illegally converted into firearms, according to Albany County officials.
