Author Archives: Evan (admin)

Rockland Legislature to vote on gun resolutions Tuesday

At Tuesday’s Public Safety Committee hearing a resolution introduced by Leg. Chair Harriet Cornell (D) urging the state and federal government to support numerous gun control and mental health provisions was passed unanimously. It will be discussed at the full Legislature on Tuesday.

The most controversial points in Cornell’s resolution are support for reimposition of the 1994 federal assault weapons ban and a closure of the so-called gun show loophole. Cornell’s resolution cites long-debunked claims that the loophole causes 40 percent of gun transactions to take place without a background check. She also asks for more school spending on guidance counselors and other services.

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Tioga County Legislature protests SAFE Act process

The NY SAFE Act, with its draconian firearms restrictions, has incited heated debate and a public outcry from law-abiding gun owners across New York. Albany’s actions outraged many citizens of rural Tioga County, which has a long history of hunting and self-reliance. The Tioga County Legislature spoke for them on Feb. 12, 2013 by passing a resolution protesting the process used to pass the NY SAFE Act and provisions in the law.

“The right to keep and bear arms is guaranteed as an individual right under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution,” the resolution stated, “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 Tioga County.”

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Resolution Text

Warren County resolution opposing NY SAFE act

This resolution was passed on February 15th

Warren County R110 2013 by Evan Hempel

Town of Hoosick opposes gun control measure

On Monday, the Hoosick town board unanimously passed a similar resolution, based on a bill from the Republican-controlled state Assembly. Both local Assemblymen Tony Jordan and Steven McLaughlin have spoken out in opposition to the law, with McLaughlin apologizing earlier this month after saying Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini would “be proud” of the way the gun control measure was passed.

Hoosick’s resolution called the state law “rash (and) confusing” and an infringement on the constitutional right to bear arms, and called for less restrictive measures like better mental health, anti-bullying, and enforcement of existing laws. The resolution ended by stating there’s “no proven corollary between firearm control and a reduction in crime.”

There was no discussion Monday other than a reading of the resolution, before which town Supervisor Keith Cipperly said he personally believed the state law infringed on the Second Amendment.

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Resolution Text

Rockland County Public Safety Committee Discusses SAFE Act Amendments

The Rockland County Legislature’s Public Safety Committee unanimously passed three resolutions relating to gun control that will go in front of the entire legislature at next week’s regular meeting.

The first resolution urges federal and state representatives to institute policy and legislative reforms with respect to gun control and increased mental health services. The second resolution requests state legislators and Gov. Andrew Cuomo take immediate action to amend the recently passed NY SAFE Act using recommendations from law enforcement officers. The third resolution urges state legislators and Cuomo to keep responsibility for pistol permit recertification process in the hands of the state instead of passing down to local governments.

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Association of Erie County Governments resolution to amend the NY SAFE Act

WHEREAS, The Association of Erie County Governments who represents the voice of the people, is made up of 25 Towns, 16 Villages and 3 Cities that represent the County of Erie, in the State of New York with a population of approximately 1,000,000 people, and

WHEREAS, On Monday January 14th, 2013 the rights under the second Amendment of our Constitution was infringed on 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 around our State, and

WHEREAS, Even the 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 Association of Erie County Governments 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 Association of Erie County Governments urgently asks Governor Andrew M. Cuomo & the Legislative leaders to suspend 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.

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

Schoharie County Legislature votes to denounce gun control act

The Schoharie County Legislature voted to pass a resolution Friday morning, denouncing the state’s new gun control legislation known as the New York SAFE Act.

The resolution calls for repealing the new law; explaining the it infringes on people’s rights and describes it as unnecessary.

The resolution opposes the process of the enactment and certain provisions, including the ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines.

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Resolution Text

Schoharie County resolution opposing NY SAFE

Passed February 15th

Schoharie County Agenda 216 by Evan Hempel

St. Lawrence County legislators will consider response to state gun law

Legislative Chairman Jonathan S. Putney, D-Waddington, named a committee of Legislators Joseph R. Lightfoot, R-Ogdensburg; Scott M. Sutherland, R-Pierrepont; Sallie A. Brothers, D-Norfolk; and Frederick S. Morrill, D-DeKalb Junction, to draft a recommendation for other lawmakers to consider next week.

Mr. Lightfoot, a retired state police investigator, said he has reviewed the law in preparation for drawing up a resolution that criticizes aspects of the statute. The committee is scheduled to meet Thursday, and Mr. Lightfoot said he hopes to introduce a resolution to legislators next week.

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Town of Union Vale resolution opposing the 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 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 Union Vale, Dutchess County, New York, and;

WHEREAS, the People of the Town of Union Vale, Dutchess County, New York derive economic benefit from all safe forms of firearms recreation, hunting and shooting conducted within Union Vale using all types of firearms allowable under the Unites States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of New York, and;

WHEREAS, the Union Vale Town Board, being elected to represent the People of Union Vale 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, New York State Assembly and the New York State 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, legislation passed by the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate infringes on the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and would ban possession and use of firearms now employed by individual citizens of the Town of Union Vale, for defense of Life, Liberty and Property and would ban possession and use of firearms now employed for the safe forms of firearms recreation, hunting and shooting conducted within the Town of Union Vale, Dutchess County, New York, and;

WHEREAS, the Union Vale Town Board believes there are many other less intrusive means available, other than rash, confusing, and inarticulately drafted firearms laws that would effectively, control, manage, and reduce violence in our society, such as, mental health reforms, anti-bullying rograms for schools, enforcement of existing firearms laws to the fullest extent possible, and proper psychological counseling for those in need or who request it;

NOW, THEREFORE, IT BE AND IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the Union Vale Town Board does hereby oppose the enactment of any legislation that would infringe upon the Right of the People to keep and bear arms and consider such laws to be unnecessary and beyond lawful legislative authority granted to our State representatives, as there is no documented correlation between gun control measures and crime reduction.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to President Barack Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, Senator Charles Schumer, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Congressman Christopher Gibson, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Senator Terry Gipson and Assemblyman Kieran Lalor