Town of Johnsburg resolution opposing the SAFE Act passed unanimously.
A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING DISSATISFACTION WITH THE PROCESS
EMPLOYED BY THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATURE WHEN ADOPTING THE NY SAFE ACT AND SOME ELEMENTS OF THE ACT ITSELF
WHEREAS, on January 15, 2013, the New York State Legislature passed the NY
Secure Ammunition and Fire Arms Enforcement Act of 2013 (NY SAFE Act) and
Governor Cuomo signed the legislation into law the same day, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board of the Town of Johnsburg maintains that when a State government decides to test and restrict the boundaries of constitutional protections, such action should be done with prudence and caution and only after our elected State legislators have had ample opportunity to study, review and debate the need for new or further legislation and the merit of any proposed legislation, and the affected public including lawful gun owners and non-gun owners in New York State should have an opportunity to be heard and comment upon proposed legislation which will test and restrict fundamental constitutional rights including rights guaranteed under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, and
WHEREAS, the NY SAFE Act was adopted by the New York State Legislature and
signed into law by Governor Cuomo in an unprecedented expedited fashion and
completely devoid of any opportunity for our elected State legislators to study, review and debate the legislation and without any opportunity for the public to comment upon the legislation or to have any input whatsoever upon the legislation, and
WHEREAS, the Johnsburg Town Board recognizes the horrific and needless loss of life and irreparable damage that can be caused when violent criminals or mentally ill individuals possess and use firearms, and
WHEREAS the Johnsburg Town Board recognizes that there are some elements of the NY SAFE Act that are worth keeping including the strengthening of Kendra’s Law, increased penalties for illegal firearm usage and the measures taken to protect first responders.
WHEREAS, a more full and detailed public discussion and debate about how to keep guns out of the hands of the mentally ill and violent criminals is desperately needed and, as adopted, the NY SAFE Act focuses too much on infringing the rights of law abiding gun owners in New York State while not addressing in any meaningful fashion keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill, now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Johnsburg Town Board expresses its dissatisfaction with the process engaged by Governor Cuomo and the State Legislature in enacting the NY SAFE Act, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Johnsburg Town Board encourages Governor Cuomo to meet with interested parties to address problems that have arisen due to the hasty enactment of the NY SAFE Act and thereafter propose amendments to the NY SAFE Act which will protect the rights of law abiding gun owners in New York State and focus upon the real problem of firearms being in the hands of criminals and the mentally ill, and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Town of Johnsburg be, and hereby is, authorized and directed to forward copies of this resolution to Governor Andrew M. Cuomo; Senator Elizabeth O’C. Little; and Assemblyman Daniel G. Stec.
With 5 members voting in favor, the resolution is declared carried.
Ayes-5 (Arsenault, Nightingale, Olesheski, Stevens, Vanselow)
Nays – 0