Monthly Archives: February 2013

Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs resolution against the SAFE Act

Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs resolution opposing the SAFE Act passed unanimously.

RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE NEW YORK SECURE AMMUNITION AND FIREARMS ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2013

WHEREAS, the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs represents over 5,000 members in 40 organizations throughout Central New York; and

WHEREAS, the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs has long advocated for the protection of the rights afforded its members under the Constitution, which has for generations guided our Nation and served as a framework to our democracy and society; and

WHEREAS, The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution provides for the “right of the people to keep and bear arms” and further states that this right “shall not be infringed”; and

WHEREAS, members of the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate, being elected by the people of New York State, are duly sworn by their oath of office to uphold the Constitution of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the lawful ownership of firearms is a valued tradition and recreational benefit to our members through hunting and target shooting, along with an economic and environmental benefit to our region with numerous locally owned and operated gun/sporting businesses; and

WHEREAS, the New York State Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act of 2013 which was rushed to passage by the New York State Senate, Assembly and Governor, will have a detrimental effect on hunters, sportsmen and legal gun owners, creating a hostile environment both for them and for the sale and manufacture of legal firearms; and

WHEREAS, the legislation prohibits the sale of firearm magazines with a capacity larger than seven (7) rounds and, those firearm magazines with a capacity larger than seven (7) rounds, which are authorized to be retained by existing owners, may only be loaded with seven (7) rounds and eventually must be permanently altered to only accept seven (7) rounds or be disposed of; and

WHEREAS, few or no low capacity (seven (7) rounds or less) magazines currently exist for many of the firearms commonly possessed by law-abiding residents of New York State; and

WHEREAS, the legislation severely impacts the possession and use of firearms now employed for safe forms of recreation including, but not limited to hunting and target shooting; and

WHEREAS, while there are some areas of the legislation that the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs finds encouraging, such as the strengthening of Kendra’s Law and Marks’s Law, as well as privacy protections for lawful permit holders, we find the legislation fails to offer any meaningful solutions to gun violence and places undue burdens where they don’t belong, squarely on the backs of law abiding citizens; and

WHEREAS, there are many parts of this legislation that place an unfunded mandate on the local Sheriff Department, County Clerk’s Office and County Judges, while tax payers are crying out relief; and

WHEREAS, there will be significant negative financial impact due to pistol permits that will have to be renewed requiring additional manpower and computer systems; and

WHEREAS, requiring law-abiding gun owners to verify ownership of certain types of firearms every five years, in addition to registering them on permits, which now also must be renewed every five years, does not increase the safety of the public and is unnecessarily burdensome to the residents of New York State and violates existing Federal Law; and

WHEREAS, requiring documentation of all ammunition sales in New York, as provided by this legislation, is another unfunded mandate on private businesses, many of which are also small, family-run businesses; and

WHEREAS, this legislation effectively treats countless New York State law abiding gun owners as criminals; and

WHEREAS, the enactment of the NY SAFE Act has engendered significant controversy over both the process by which it was enacted and certain provisions contained within; and

WHEREAS, the manner in which this legislation was brought forward for vote in the State Legislature is deeply disturbing to the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs does hereby oppose the enactment of the New York State Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act of 2013 because it fundamentally alters or abridges the right to keep and bear arms without addressing the problems of gun violence; and, be it further

RESOLVED, that this Organization hereby calls upon the New York State Legislature and Governor to set aside and annul this ill-conceived and poorly drafted statute which abridges the rights of law abiding citizens of the State of New York; and further be it

RESOLVED, that the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs opposes any effort by the New York State Legislature to bundle together stricter gun control efforts with legislation that would exempt the records pertaining to handgun permit holders from disclosure under NYS Freedom of Information Law; and further be it

RESOLVED, that copies of this Resolution be forwarded to the Governor of the State of New York, Senator David Valesky, Senator John DeFrancisco, Senator Patty Ritchie, Assemblyman Al Stirpe, Assemblyman William Magnarelli, Assemblyman Samuel Roberts, Assemblyman William Barclay, Assemblyman Gary Finch and the Onondaga County Legislature.

This resolution passed by the Onondaga County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs

Washington County Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs resolution opposing NY SAFE

NYSAFE Federation Resolution 1 of 2013 by Evan Hempel

Cayuga County Resolution calling for Repeal of SAFE Act

Cayuga_county_1

Chautauqua County Legislature to Vote on Wednesday, February 27th

Attention Chautauqua County residents: The Legislature will meet at 6:30 on Wednesday,  February 27th. On the agenda is a motion calling for the repeal of the NY Safe Act.

Please see pages 25-26 of the packet below.

Read more…

Town of Bergen resolution opposing the SAFE Act

Preliminary Meeting Agenda 022613 by Nathan Hempel

Saint Lawrence County working to oppose NY SAFE Act

The St. Lawrence County Finance Committee unanimously passed a resolution in opposition to the NY SAFE Act gun control law.

St.Lawrence became the 48th of sixty-two counties have either passed or have pending resolutions in opposition to the law. Tonight’s resolution now moves to the full board scheduled for next week.

About 100 citizens came out to speak out against the controversial law. Arguments against the bill varied between the SAFE Act’s infringement on the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to Governor Cuomo’s “measure of necessity” enacted to push the bill through without public input.

Read more…

Town of Worcester resolution calling for the repeal of the NY SAFE acct

Resolution #59: In opposition to the process of enactment and certain provisions of the NYS “Safe” Act.

Offered by Councilman Parker, second by Councilman Ridgeway:

Whereas, the right of the people to keep and bear arms is guaranteed as an individual right under the second amendment to the United States Constitution; and

Whereas further, the right of the people to keep and bear arms for defense of life, liberty and property is regarded as an inalienable right by the people of the Town of Worcester; and

Whereas further, the process of passage of said act denied time to review and gain constituent input to the state legislature; and

Whereas further, the classification of and banning of and registration of certain types of firearms and magazines in the act is arbitrary, capricious, and judgmental; and

Whereas further, the legislation fails to offer any meaningful solution to gun violence and instead places the burden of compliance upon law abiding gun owners and effectively creates a classification of this group as criminals without cause, and

Whereas finally, the legislation has been overwhelmingly opposed by rural NY State County Board Resolution and Rural Sheriff Public statement.

Therefore, be it resolved that the Town Board of the Town of Worcester, New York does hereby oppose and request the repeal of any legislation including the sections within the NY Safe Act (Chapter 1 of the Laws of 2013) which infringe upon the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

VOTE: Ayes 3 (Parker, Ridgeway, Mravlja) Nays: 1 (Addesso)

Town of Morristown resolution opposing the NY SAFE Act.

Resolution # 3 of 2013 Oppose NYSAFE Gun Control Act- Councilman Warren moved to adopt resolution #3 of 2013, a resolution opposing elements of the NYSAFE Gun Control Act.  The move to adopt was seconded by Councilman David Stout III.  The resolution is a follows:

RESOLUTION # 3 of 2013

OPPOSING A NUMBER OF PROVISIONS ENACTED UNDER THE NEW YORK SAFE ACT AND THE PROCESS BY WHICH THE ACT WAS ENACTED

By Mr. Warren, Deputy Supervisor

​Seconded By Councilman David Stout III

 

WHEREAS,​the Constitution of the United States unequivocally guarantees certain rights to its citizens, among them being the inalienable right to keep and bear arms in defense of life, liberty and property: and

WHEREAS, ​the Supreme Court of the United States, in the case District of Columbia v. Heller (554 U.S. 570), decided June 26,2008, the court held that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that firearm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home, and

WHEREAS, ​in another landmark decision the same Supreme Court, in the case McDonald v. Chicago, decided June 28, 2010, held that the right of an individual to “keep and bear arms” is protected by the Second Amendment and further, “is incorporated by the Due Process Claus of the Fourteenth Amendment and applies to the states”, and

WHEREAS,​many of the residents of the Town of Morristown have expressed their displeasure not only with the provisions of the NY SAFE act itself, but also the manner and methods used to bring it to the floor and vote it into law, and

WHEREAS, ​using a message of necessity from the Governor to bring forth and enact a law that has dozens of sections and changes in current laws, but only three of which take effect immediately, negates the argument that the speed with which this bill was brought forward was necessary, and

WHEREAS,​the sheer size of the bill, the extent of the many new changes it brings and the very short time that the bill was made available to the legislature for review, effectively precluded discussion and debate on the provisions set forth in the bill, preventing the mature development of arguments, both for and against, and

WHEREAS,  this legislation fails to bring forth any meaningful solutions for dealing with or preventing gun violence and the majority of its provisions will affect only law abiding gun owners, who were not given the opportunity to express their views or otherwise comment on the , and

WHEREAS,  while there are provisions of the bill that have merit; e.g. increased penalty for killing emergency responders, NICS checks for private sales of firearms, safe storage provisions, mental health record review, and increased penalties for the illegal use of a weapon, the other provisions of the law, which run roughshod over second amendment rights, must be reconsidered and if the new law is to be proposed it must be done in the light of the day, and given the time necessary to review its provisions, engage in meaningful and constructive debate and allow public review, comment and input relative to the content of the bill,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town Board of the Town of Morristown joins with the  St. Lawrence County Board of Legislators in opposing those portions of the NY underlying issues that confront our society as a whole, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Town Board of the Town of Morristown strongly encourages the members of the New York State Legislature to visit the process that led to the adoption of this bill, to allow time for public comment and input on the merits of the bill, and to bring forth a bill that addresses the real problems confronted by today’s society and not jeopardize the rights of the law abiding citizens, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution be forwarded to Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senators; Patty Ritchie, Joseph Griffo, Elizabeth Little, Assemblymen: Kenneth Blankenbush and Mark Butler, Assemblywomen; Addie Russell and Janet Duprey, County Legislators Joseph Lightfoot and Gregory Paquin.

Vote: Gary Turner-Aye, David VanArnam-Aye, David Stout-Aye, Howard Warren-Aye, Frank Putman-Aye

Town of Newstead resolution calling for repeal of the NY SAFE Act

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS OFFERED BY COUNCILMAN BARAN, WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION, SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MAYROSE

WHEREAS, The Town of Newstead, which represents the voice of the people, that represent citizens of the northeast portion of County of Erie, in the State of New York, and

WHEREAS, On Monday January 14th, 2013 the rights under the second Amendment of our Constitution were infringed upon without due process, and

WHEREAS, The Gun Control Bill (S.2230) known as NY SAFE Act was rushed through the Senate & Assembly without a single Public hearing or input from the various Law enforcement agencies located in our State, and

WHEREAS, State lawmakers did not have time to review the bill as presented leaving questions about implementation and regulation of this new law, and

WHEREAS, This law should focus on increasing penalties for criminals who use firearms to harm and threaten law abiding citizens and address the issues of mental illness related to violence, and

WHEREAS, The Town of Newstead realizes that NY SAFE Act, gun control law must be repealed and replace the restrictive parts of the enacted law, and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Newstead asks Governor Andrew M. Cuomo & the Legislative leaders to repeal this law as soon as possible and to look at all of the aspects of gun control using the proper legal procedure to bring about a law that will address gun control in a more logical manner, focusing on the real issues related to gun control – a law that will strengthen the effect on public safety and not infringe upon our constitutional rights; and that it be further

RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be forwarded to: Honorable Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Honorable Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, Majority Leader of Independent Democratic Caucus Jeff Klein, Honorable Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Honorable Speaker of the Assembly Sheldon Silver, Honorable Leader of the Assembly Joseph Morelle, Honorable Minority Leader of the Assembly Brian Kolb, and the Western New York Delegation and Erie County Legislators

The above resolution was duly put to a roll call vote at a regular meeting of the Newstead Town Board on February 25, 2013, the results of which were as follows:

Councilman Rooney      NO
Councilman Mayrose    AYE
Councilman Baran        AYE
Councilman York           AYE
Supervisor Cummings AYE
CARRIED

Town of Marathon resolution opposing NY SAFE act

WHEREAS, the Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms is guaranteed as an Individual Right under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and under the Constitution of the State of New York, and;

WHEREAS, the Right of the People to Keep and Bear Arms for defense of Life, Liberty, and Property is regarded as an Inalienable Right by the People of the Town of Marathon, New York, and:

WHEREAS, the People of the Town of Marathon, New York, derive economic benefit and recreation from all safe forms of firearms conducted within the Town of Marathon using all types of firearms allowable under the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of New York, and;

WHEREAS, the Town of Marathon Board, being elected to represent the People of the Town of Marathon and being duly sworn by their Oath of Office to uphold the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of New York, and;

WHEREAS, the New York Assembly and the New York Senate, being elected by the People of the State of New York and being duly sworn by their Oath of Office to uphold the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of New York, and;

WHEREAS, the legislation passed by the New York State Legislature and signed by the Governor on January 15 infringes upon the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and bans the possession and use of firearms now employed by individual citizens of the Town of Marathon, New York, for defense of Life, Liberty and Property and bans the possession and use of firearms now legally owned for safe forms of firearms conducted within the Town of Marathon, New York;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT AND HEREBY RESOLVED that the Town of Marathon’s Town Board, hereby calls for the repeal of the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act of 2013 and declares that such legislation infringes upon the Right of the People to keep and bear arms, thereby considers such an act an over reach of legislative authority and is unconstitutional.