On Tuesday, January 15, Governor Andrew Cuomo inked a deal enacting sweeping gun control mandates for New York State. The measure is a serious step toward both statewide and nationwide reform which has polarized many United States citizens.

The laws stem at least partially from the Newtown tragedy only a month ago. The incident immediately thrust the gun control debate into the spotlight. However, Governor Cuomo’s bill is the first to be passed in the month since—and it hasn’t come without controversy.

In addition to reaffirming the state’s existing assault weapons ban, the new bill limits the number of bullets allowed in magazines and strengthens laws regarding the mentally ill. One point of criticism is that the latter laws focus not on bettering mental health services but rather requiring potentially harmful behavior to be reported.

Beyond that, however, critics are quick to point out how Governor Cuomo’s bill is not supported by the Constitution. According to this viewpoint, the deal is less a matter of safety than it is one of restricting guaranteed freedoms, primarily for the sake of publicity.

Another point of criticism is the promptness with which the bill was enacted. Governor Cuomo signed the deal after only two days of voting in the state Legislature. Cuomo’s reasoning for this was to halt the increase in gun sales that had begun with just the consideration of this bill and others like it.

To that end, Second Amendment activists gathered outside the state Capitol for a “Guns Across America” rally on Saturday, January 19. The gathering of about 2,000-strong saw protestors decry the recently enacted laws and even call for Governor Cuomo’s impeachment.

Though perhaps emotionally charged to a fault, the activists nevertheless demonstrate the sensitivity associated with the gun control issue. In light of recent events, we find that we will have to cooperate and compromise in order to ensure our individual safeties and liberties alike. In that regard, Governor Cuomo’s bill signifies what is likely to be the first of many heated debates.