Tag Archives: ColumbiaCounty

Columbia County Supervisors: No seal for SAFE Act

The Board of Supervisors voted recently to deny the use of Columbia County’s seal in correspondence related to the Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act, to eliminate any alleged endorsement.

Members supported the resolution County Clerk Holly Tanner brought before the board’s County Government Committee on Feb. 25 by 2,768 to 458 votes, with 475 absent. Supervisor Bill Hughes, D-Hudson4, the board’s minority leader, requested roll-call votes on the SAFE Act resolution

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Columbia County resolution calling for the repeal of the NY SAFE act

Resolution

Board of Supervisors

County of Columbia

New York

RESOLUTION NO. DATE: February 13, 2013

 

BY SUPERVISOR____________________________

COUNTY GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE

CHAIRMAN: KEVIN MCDONALD

RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE PROCESS OF ENACTMENT OF AND CERTAIN PROVISIONS CONTAINED WITHIN THE NEW YORK SAFE ACT

UPON, recommendation of the Public Safety Committee at a meeting held on the 21st day of February, 2013;

WHEREAS, The Board of Supervisors has long advocated for protection of the rights afforded to citizens 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 provides for the “right of the people to keep and bear arms” and further states that this right “shall not be infringed”, and that this right has been a bedrock of our nation for over two centuries; and

WHEREAS, The New York State Legislature has recently adopted legislation, the NY Safe Act, proposed by Governor Cuomo to curtail these rights through the enactment of various anti-gun measures that will significantly impact legal gun owners and various businesses and suppliers of guns and related supplies and equipment; and

WHEREAS, This legislation was approved with scant public notice, very little public debate or review by State Lawmakers, and in the days since the legislation was introduced and enacted, concerns have arisen regarding various matters of law and potential defects in the legislation; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors believes that portions of the Act are necessary and will in fact increase the safety of the citizens. However, other provisions of the Act appear to be unnecessary, arbitrary, ill-advised and contrary rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and reaffirmed by the United States Supreme Court and the Courts of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors believes that an issue of this seriousness and effect should have been granted a respectful and appropriate period of debate, review and consideration; and

WHEREAS, As New York State already has some of the toughest gun legislation in the Country, including the Sullivan Act, and concerns have been voiced that this legislation will not improve public safety in the state, including concerns by Legislators who initially supported the legislation; and

WHEREAS, Additionally, Federal Lawmakers and the President are also considering legislation or executive orders that would further infringe on the Second Amendment; and

WHEREAS, This legislation will unfairly affect the rights of the many law-abiding gun owners in Columbia County and New York State who are granted the right to keep and bear arms under the Constitution; and

WHEREAS, This legislation also does not adequately address the many acts of violence committed by criminals who are likely to ignore this legislation, and does not address the concerns of many residents, particularly those in rural communities, to possess firearms for the purpose of home or self defense, in accordance with the provisions of the Second Amendment; and

WHEREAS, this Legislation imposes a number of unfunded mandates on County government and taxpayers; and

WHEREAS, as written, the Act increases the stigma on the mentally ill. It is the mission of the Columbia County Department of Human Services to increase access and decrease stigma; and

WHEREAS, the following Counties have enacted legislation opposing both the process of enactment of the Act as well as certain provisions contained therein: Putnam, Rockland, Orange, Ulster, Greene, Schoharie, Rensselaer, Warren, Washington, Hamilton, Fulton, Herkimer, Lewis, Oneida, Madison, Oswego, Tioga, Yates, Livingston, Wyoming, Orleans, Niagara, and Cattaraugus; and

WHEREAS, several of the remaining counties in the State have similar legislation currently pending; and

WHEREAS, The Board of Supervisors does hereby affirm support for the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the rights afforded to residents under the Constitution, and opposes attempts to infringe on those rights; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Board of Supervisors affirms support for the Second Amendment, and states opposition to the legislation NY Safe Act adopted by the State Legislature restricting the rights of gun owners, and opposes attempts on the Federal level to implement new restrictions on these rights; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body further requests that the NY Safe Act be repealed during the current state legislative session; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That the Clerk of this Legislative Body is hereby directed to transmit certified copies of this resolution to U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Representative Paul Tonko, U.S. Representative Chris Gibson, Governor Andrew Cuomo, State Senator Kathy Marchione, Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin and Assemblywoman Didi Barrett.

 

Approved:

____________________________

 

________________________________ ____________________________

County Attorney

____________________________

 

Columbia County Supervisors call for repeal of NY SAFE Act

COLUMBIA COUNTY — Following passionate speeches by the public, which cited Thomas Jefferson and the Greco-Persian Wars, the full Columbia County Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday night on a resolution calling for the repeal of the NY SAFE Act.

About 100 opponents of the act were in attendance and cheered the passage of the board’s resolution, which had been in the works for weeks. The supervisors agreed to allow a half hour public comment session before the vote, after an agreement by both parties, though such comment is not typically allowed at full board meetings without a prior request and a vote by the supervisors.

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Columbia County Sheriff says he opposes parts of NY SAFE Act

Columbia County Sheriff David Harrison publicly stated his opposition to the NY Safe Act on Thursday in a meeting with the Public Safety Committee of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors. The supervisors followed with passing a resolution stating their intent to work on drafting a resolution expressing their opposition to parts of the bill.

The resolution of intent, quickly worded together by supervisors Thursday, would require cooperation with the County Government Committee and County Attorney’s Office on piecing the language together.

Harrison said he was opposed to the NY SAFE Act and would support a resolution by the supervisors to ask state legislatures to oppose the legislation, though he said “not everything is bad as far as we’re concerned.”

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Columbia County committee calls for repeal of NY SAFE Act

The County Government Committee of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution on Tuesday calling for the repeal of the NY Safe Act passed by the State Legislature last month.

The committee voted 6-2 in favor, with supervisors Jesse DeGroodt, NOP-Chatham, Thomas Garrick, R-Gallatin, Ron Knott, R-Stuyvesant, Kevin McDonald, R-Livingston, Matt Murell, R-Stockport and Raymond Staats, D-Clermont voting in support. Voting against the measure were supervisors Edward Cross, D-Hudson2 and Ellen Thurston, D-Hudson3.

The resolution, which would still need to be passed by the full Board of Supervisors, states that the NY SAFE Act will curtail the Second Amendment right of citizens to bear arms, and takes issue with the legislation for having been “approved with scant public notice, very little public debate or review by state lawmakers.”

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

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.

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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Columbia County Supervisors will play it safe with SAFE Act

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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