Category Archives: News

Erie County Legislature calls for repeal of SAFE Act

Posted on February 21, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Erie County legislators have added their voices to a chorus of people across the state calling for the new state gun law to be repealed.

The County Legislature voted, 7 to 4, on Thursday to approve a resolution calling on the state to repeal and revise the New York State SAFE Act of 2013 “in a manner that is respectful of the Second Amendment rights of New Yorkers.”

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Columbia County Human Services Director objects to state’s SAFE Act and County reconsidering passing a resolution

Posted on February 21, 2013 by | 3 comments

Columbia County Department of Human Services Director Michael Cole is speaking out against the NY SAFE Act, the gun control legislation passed by the state legislature last month. Cole said the new law will be a burden on his department and may require the department to hire another employee to handle additional paperwork.

In statements made to the Health and Medical Services Committee of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors Wednesday, Cole said the new reporting requirements would add a “formality” to work which is already done by the department, which oversees county-run mental health services. The legal mandate kicks in March 16. He said he is not sure how much the new regulations could cost the county. “It’s not money well spent and it’s not funded,” he said.

In addition, Cole said he objected to the legislation because it increases the “stigma” on the mentally ill. “We’re trying to increase access and decrease stigma,” said Cole.

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Last week, the Board of Supervisors decided not to act in support or against the NY SAFE Act. Some county legislatures around the state have been taking up resolutions against the law. On Wednesday, Board of Supervisors Chairman Patrick Grattan said the county may reconsider voting on such a resolution.

“We are considering everything,” he said. Grattan said he has received about two dozen emails and some phone calls on the issue. “We’re listening to everybody (who) has a comment on it.”

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Greene county lawmakers vote to take a stand against NY Safe Act

Posted on February 20, 2013 by | Leave a comment

If a new bill passes as law in the state in New York, Tom may have to get liability insurance for those firearms. The bill would require liability insurance of at least $1 million. “We’re opposing that before it gets to the floor,” said Wayne Speenburgh, the chairman of the Greene County legislature.

Greene county legislatures voted unanimously for a resolution that strongly opposes the bill and any other laws that would require gun owners to be insured. “It can run anywhere from $125 to $200 a year,” said Speenburgh.

“The hassle involved would be the thing as soon as you’re insured you’d have to register it,” said Gentalen. “Making it very hard to have and own a firearm.”

As opposition continues to grow from gun owners, the county board members also voted on another resolution. The resolution asks the state to revisit gun legislation and repeal the NY Safe Act. “I would hope the governor is listening and understands he’s awakened a sleeping giant,” said Speenburgh.

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Text of resolutions

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Indian Lake voices concerns over New York SAFE Act, gun control

Posted on February 20, 2013 by | Leave a comment

The Monday, Feb. 11 Indian Lake Town Board meeting was met with an unusually large number of attendees upset about the state’s new gun control law.

Most were members of the local Rod and Gun Club and were in attendance to support a resolution to defy and repeal the recent New York state gun control legislation embodied in the Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act (SAFE). The SAFE Act, being referred to as the most restrictive gun control law in the country, was signed into law Jan. 15, 2013. It is supposed that the law was a response to the horrific shootings at the Sandy Hook Elementary School just before the Christmas holiday this past December.

Opposition to the law has been based on its supposed Federal and State unconstitutionality, tightening and frequency of licensing standards, restriction of ammunition magazine size, etc.

Supervisor Brian Wells read a proposed resolution that was closely modeled after a resolution recently put forward by Ulster County. The resolution passed in a 3-2 vote of the board with Councilwoman Sally Stanton and Councilman John Valentine both casting “no” votes.

Immediately following the vote, Stanton offered an explanation for her voting against the resolution, saying that in good conscience she did not believe that the SAFE act should be repealed because it does have some benefit. Instead, she directed the attention of the board to the recent resolution passed by Hamilton County, supporting the New York State Sheriffs’ Association’s position on the SAFE Act.

Stanton then proposed the Hamilton County resolution to the board for approval. The board approved this resolution unanimously. Both resolutions will be available on townofindianlake.org website for public review.

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Text of resolutions

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We made national news!

Posted on February 20, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Local leaders said the push for resolutions in opposition to the gun law hasn’t come from one particular group. And while some counties have consulted with one another about how to craft the resolutions, there isn’t one specific template that they are all using — though many are similar.

“It’s got grassroots. There’s no overarching group pushing this,” said Evan Hempel, a town council member in Clermont, Columbia County, N.Y., who is keeping track of the resolutions on a website, www.nysaferesolutions.com.

Most of the resolutions knock the hasty passage of the law. Cuomo bypassed a three-day waiting period for the bill to be adopted, using what’s known as a message of necessity. Lawmakers approved it within hours of the bill being printed.

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Columbia County Supervisors will play it safe with SAFE Act

Posted on February 20, 2013 by | 5 comments

COLUMBIA COUNTY — The Columbia County Board of Supervisors will not be joining their counterparts in surrounding counties in jumping into the explosive fray concerning the new gun control law passed by the state legislature and introduced by Gov. Andrew Cuomo last month.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Patrick Grattan, R-Kinderhook, said there was a consensus among the supervisors not to weigh in on the controversial topic of gun control and the NY SAFE Act, passed by the state legislature.

Grattan said that supervisors are telling their constituents to contact their state representatives about their concerns with the legislation, if they have any.

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Town of Riga joins communities opposed to new gun laws

Posted on February 20, 2013 by | Leave a comment

The town of Riga has joined a small but growing chorus of municipalities vocalizing opposition to the state’s new gun control law.

Last week, the Riga Town Board voted 4 to 0 to adopt a resolution condemning the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Act of 2013.

“The Riga 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,” the resolution reads.

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Town of Chester press release on resolution opposing NY SAFE and affirming second amendment

Posted on February 20, 2013 by | 1 comment
PRESS RELEASE
 
For more information regarding this press release, please contact the
Office of the Town Supervisor at 845-469-7000 extension 2.
 
February 19, 2013
 
Town of Chester Adopts Resolution Opposing Process Utilized to Enact the “NY SAFE Act” and Affirming its Support for the 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution
 
Chester–The Town of Chester has adopted a resolution opposing the process utilized to adopt New York’s latest gun control law, called the NY SAFE Act.  In addition, the Town’s resolution reaffirms its support for the 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution
 
Chester Town Supervisor Steven M. Neuhaus stated “Leaders in Albany are setting a very dangerous precedent by passing this law without any regard for legislative debate or input from experts on gun safety and mental health.”

Resolution Text

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Unanimous Vote to Repeal SAFE Act in Niagara County

Posted on February 20, 2013 by | Leave a comment

On Tuesday night, lawmakers in Niagara County voted unanimously to support legislation that many other counties have passed, sending a symbolic message to lawmakers in Albany to repeal the SAFE Act.

Some frustrated gun owners held a rally before the meeting to voice their concerns, and urge legislators to vote to ask lawmakers to repeal the SAFE Act.

“Not only because it’s an assault on the Second Amendment, but because it’s an assault on the legislative process,” said one person outside the Niagara County courthouse.

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Video from legislature meeting:

Resolution Text

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Rockland Legislature Urges State To Repeal Parts Of Gun Control Legislation

Posted on February 20, 2013 by | Leave a comment

The gun debate continued on in Rockland Tuesday night, as the Rockland County Legislature voted on multiple gun-related resolutions in front of a packed crowd.

The legislators voted against a resolution urging federal and state representatives to institute policy and legislative reforms with respect to gun control and increased mental health services. A resolution requesting the state to repeal certain aspects of the New York SAFE Act passed later in the meeting.

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Resolution Text

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