Gun Politics New York

Rockland Co. Legislator Beth Davidson, and wannabe ’26 CD-17 Democrat nominee, took a shot at incumbent Congressman Mike Lawler over the inclusion of the elimination of the $200 NFA tax on suppressors and SBRs in the One Big Beautiful Bill.

There’s no reason to fisk her op-ed. She just regurgitates the same antigun hysterics they have been spewing for decades.

I was a little surprised that Lawler returned fire with his own op-ed.

The good:

“… Let’s start with her central attack: the legislation I supported to remove the $200 tax on suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns. Davidson calls these “silencers” and claims they make it impossible to hear gunfire. Wrong on both counts. They are suppressors, and just like a car muffler, they reduce sound but do not eliminate it. They protect hearing, make hunting and sport shooting safer and less disruptive and are rarely used in crimes. That’s why many European countries encourage their use, and why even municipalities in New York hire sharpshooters with suppressors to manage deer overpopulation. And here’s what Davidson left out: suppressors remain tightly regulated under the National Firearms Act. Purchasing one still requires two separate FBI background checks, ATF registration, fingerprinting, photographs and notification to local law enforcement. No law-abiding New Yorker is suddenly walking out of a gun shop with a “silencer” like in a Hollywood movie. The only thing this change did was stop penalizing responsible citizens with a $200 tax. Suggesting otherwise is either ignorance or dishonesty …”

“… New York’s problem isn’t a lack of gun control laws. We already have some of the strictest in the nation. The problem is that Democrats refuse to enforce the laws on the books … Just weeks ago, a criminal ignored Times Square’s “gun-free zone” and opened fire, injuring three people …”

“… Democrats like her push unconstitutional bans that even the Supreme Court has made clear cannot stand after D.C. v. Heller. If an assault weapons ban were constitutional and effective, why didn’t Democrats pass it when they controlled the House, Senate and White House in 2009–2010 and again in 2021–2022? They know it won’t withstand scrutiny, and they know it won’t stop crime. But it makes for a good talking point …”

The bad:

“… In Albany, I supported harsh measures to crack down on ghost guns, disguised guns that look like toys, and unlawful gun purchases by fugitives. I backed laws expanding Extreme Risk Protection Orders, requiring background checks for semiautomatic rifles, and cracking down on body armor sales. And helped shepherd Alyssa’s Law to ensure the use of panic alarms in our public schools. In Congress, I led the bipartisan renewal of the Undetectable Firearms Act, working with Senator Schumer to keep guns undetectable by metal detectors illegal. I introduced a tax credit to promote safe storage and cosponsored background check legislation while making clear that 90% of criminals obtain their firearms illegally—by theft, on the street, or from friends and family—not through gun shows or private sales …”

Lawler should have shut up about this last part. There was no reason to include it.

His record on 2A is a mixed-bag. The most offensive thing is support “red flag.” I’d probably rate him a C on our issues. That is still better than his competition.