The right to refuse… signs?

Mike Serrao, a retired police officer and firearm seller, owns his father-in-law’s firearm shop, Butter-nut Sport Shop in Minoa, New York. The sign “We ARE your Grandpa’s gun store!” is posted in the back of his shop.

But a new sign has to be added to the front of Serrao’s firearm store. 

In October 2024, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill into law that requires all firearm shops in the state of New York to post a warning sign about the dangers of owning a gun. The warning sign says:

“Warning access to a weapon or firearm in the home significantly increases the risk of suicide, death during domestic disputes, and/or unintentional deaths to children, household members and others. If you or a loved one is experiencing distress and/or depression, call the National Suicide Prevention Life Line at 988.”

The bill was passed due to an increase in gun ownership throughout the nation from January 2019 to April 2021. Of these purchases, 7.5 million came from first-time firearm owners. As a result, the New York Legislature wants gun owners to be more informed about their decision to buy a gun. 

However, gun owners like Serrao do not believe warning signs will be the solution. “The gun is an inanimate object. They don’t kill you,” Serrao said. 

Photo by Naomi Campbell

Storefront of the Butter-nut Sport Shop in Minoa, New York a family firearm shop owned by Mike Serrao.

Warning signs are not the only new addition to state firearm regulations. The Legislature also passed a bill that could provide more funding to anti-violence programs in schools, but it is still awaiting Gov. Hochul’s signature.

Serrao sees the benefit of these school programs. He believes firearms are not the problem, but the lack of education in schools about them is. “They are not teaching about how to respect life in school,” Serraro said.

Roger Kocher of Oswego, one of the owners of Honey Bee Ridge Arms LLC, shares Serraro’s thoughts. “Bad things can happen with any tool and it depends on how you use it. Firearms are just another tool,” Kocher said.

Regardless of the stance a firearm owner might have, failure to post a warning sign could result in a $1,000 fine. 

“My initial thought is [it’s] pretty redundant. [We are] already required to display a whole bunch of signs,” Kocher said.

He also believes the warning signs are ineffective and have no impact on customers’ decisions. 

“It is to make people feel good and not meant to do anything. It makes the politicians feel like they are doing something,” Kocher said. 

Firearms might be a physical and emotional threat to civilians, but business owners believe they experience a different type of threat — one that infringes upon their rights.

“When you get to the point of the constitutionality, the government is compelling the speech of the business owner. It is a violation of the First Amendment, but they do it anyway,” Kocher said.

5.2 million people in New York own firearms, and Rick Rios is one of them. Rios served in the military and has been a drone technician since 2007. Though the warning signs were created as preventive measures, Rios believes they aren’t clear enough to customers and firearm dealers.

Rios’ message to legislators is that warning signs should not be the first solution, rather reform should focus on education.

“Instead of passing so many laws, investing so much money, put your money where your mouth is; put money where it should go,” Rios said. “If you want gun safety, take a class.”