Tag Archives: CattaraugusCounty

Cattaraugus County Legislature voted unanimously this week to deny the state permission to include the county on its paperwork

Cattaraugus County has become the latest to distance itself from the state’s controversial SAFE Act gun control law, seeking to block the state from using the county name and seal on paperwork related to the recertification of pistol permits called for by the law.

The County Legislature voted unanimously this week to deny the state permission to include the county on its paperwork. The move comes out of concern that state officials plan to have letters sent to pistol permit holders that bear both the state seal and the county seal, in an effort to ease the minds of permit holders, said County Clerk James Griffith.

He said he believes it would increase communication to the County Clerk’s Office about the process, even though his office has nothing to do with the recertification.

County legislators are hopeful that they have blocked the state from a tactic that could result in confusion and create mistrust at the county level.

“It’s false advertising,” one legislator murmured.

“It is my understanding that New York State thought that, by doing this, local gun owners would think the local agency has authority in the recertification process,” County Attorney Tom Brady said. “If they have any other reasons to do this, I have not heard of them.”

According to the language of the SAFE Act, the recertification of pistol permits will be handled by the State Police on a five-year basis.

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Cattaraugus County resolution opposing NY SAFE bill

Passed on February 13th unanimously.

Cattaraugus Legislature Minutes 20130213 by Evan Hempel

Cattaraugus County lawmakers urge gun law repeal

Joining with other county governments across the state, members of the Cattaraugus County Legislature voted unanimously Wednesday to adopt a resolution urging the repeal of New York’s new gun control law.

The measure was presented by Legislator William Aiello of Olean after a recent meeting of the New York State Association of Counties, where he serves as second vice president. The meeting was a training involving members from Western New York and the Adirondacks. The regions banded together to pass a joint resolution calling for the appeal of the bill, Aiello said.

“We brought this bill back and decided to bring it forward as a show of support for what the New York Sheriffs Association, as well as the New York State Clerks Association, have said,” he explained. “The SAFE Act was pushed through and didn’t give anyone the chance to voice their opinion of it. It didn’t take into account law enforcement, among other things.”

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