By North Country Now Staff

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has introduced legislation that she said will prohibit states from maintaining handgun rosters, which are designed to require firearms to adopt “costly, unnecessary features” that make it difficult to sell new handguns.

The “Modern Firearm Safety Act” was introduced Aug. 20 by Stefanik and Congressman Darrell Issa (R-CA).

“I am proud to introduce the Modern Firearm Safety Act to put a stop to the unconstitutional gun-grabbing agenda pushed on law-abiding American citizens by Far Left Democrats like Kathy Hochul. My legislation would ban Albany Democrats from imposing illegal handgun roster requirements meant to deter gun ownership. I will always stand up for our Second Amendment rights and provide a critical check to any entity attempting to encroach on their liberties,” said Stefanik.

Proponents of such legislation say “smart gun” technology can save lives.

According to Everytown For Gun Safety, more than 4.6 million American children live in a home with at least one unlocked and loaded firearm.

New York State Attorney General Letitia James recently said that she and other state attorneys general “all share the firm conviction that the Constitution allows States to act to prevent gun violence in a manner that is adapted to individual States’ needs.”

Handgun rosters are currently utilized in California, Maryland, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia, limiting potential purchasers to a specific list of firearms that fit a very specific criteria based on their features.

Rosters are maintained by state agencies to list approved handgun models that satisfy the state’s design and safety standards, according to the Giffords Law Center

Giffords is an advocacy group founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords that continues to seek stricter firearm regulations throughout the United States to combat gun violence, according to the organization’s website.

If passed, the legislation would ban states from requiring loaded chamber indicators, magazine disconnect mechanisms, and microstamping for handgun sales.

It would also align with a federal district court ruling that found California’s handgun roster requirements unconstitutional, according to Stefanik’s press release.

The legislation may pass in the House of Representatives but is unlikely to pass as it faces long odds in the Democratic controlled Senate.