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Two peas in a pod

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The Poughkeepsie Journal reports on the Democrat and Republican candidates running in CD-19:

Incumbent Congressman Antonio Delgado:

“Gun violence today is an epidemic that has spread to the most sacred places in our communities – our schools, places of worship, concert halls, movie theaters, and more. As the father to two young boys, I cannot fathom the enduring pain of losing a child to senseless gun violence. As a society, we must do better. That’s why I was proud to support H.R. 8, legislation to finally achieve universal background checks, with reasonable exemptions for family transfers. Requiring background checks, banning military-style assault weapons, establishing safe-storage laws, and expanding access to mental health services are all key steps to help curb gun violence and save lives.”

Republican challenger Kyle Van De Water:

“First, I want to reaffirm my unwavering support of the Second Amendment. Not only would it be unconstitutional to address this issue by infringing upon Second Amendment rights, it would be ineffective. I would look to the Broken Windows theory and focus on addressing minor offenses, and by doing so discourage more serious offenses such as gun violence. Unlike the Brady Bill in the 90s, under which there was no measurable decrease in gun violence nationwide, New York City under Mayor Giuliani’s Broken Windows strategy saw a drastic and meaningful decrease in violent crime including those committed with firearms. The measures I would take would focus on addressing misdemeanor level crimes which affect our safety and quality of life. Such measures have proven staggeringly effective in reducing more serious and dangerous crimes including those committed with firearms, while taking guns from law abiding citizens has proven ineffective in curtailing gun violence.”

An observation from my Twitter feed:


Marks believes gun control is a winning issue

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Candidate Gregory Marks believes gun control is a winning issue in AD-20:

“… I am here to be your champion, fighting for gun violence prevention, public health, choice, environmental protection, and so many more critical issues. I am the Moms Demand Action endorsed candidate in this race. As we saw just a few weeks ago in the scary incident outside Yeshiva Ketana, dangerous assault-style weapons have no place in our community, particularly in such close proximity to schools and religious institutions. From Pittsburgh to Poway and Newtown to Marjory Stoneman Douglas, we have seen time and again that sick and anti-Semitic individuals armed with high-powered weapons can cause unthinkable harm to our suburban communities. We must fight to protect our schools and houses of worship and for that fight we need more champions …”

Newsbits

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Thursday’s Newsbits:

Elections:

Gun Industry:

Jurisprudence:

Politics:

Campaign notes

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Assorted reports on political campaigns where guns are mentioned.

Meet The Candidate: Jones For Congress In NY17:

“New Yorkers will choose their representatives to Congress Nov. 3 in the 2020 general election … Mondaire Jones is the Democratic candidate for Congress in New York’s 17th Congressional District … As long as our democracy remains rigged, real change — health care for everyone, environmental reforms, gun safety legislation, dismantling systemic racism, and strengthening reproductive justice — will remain out of reach. It’s time to take our democracy back from billionaires and special interests, and I am ready to lead that fight …”

Christine Pellegrino, 4th Senatorial District:

“… She will seek gun control measures that would stop criminals, terrorists and domestic abusers from easy access to firearms …”

Serino-Smythe race for NY Senate seat is rematch of 2018 election:

“Republican state Sen. Sue Serino and Democrat Karen Smythe are squaring off in a rematch of the 2018 election in New York’s 41st Senate District … Serino, on her website, says her priorities are: reducing taxes, creating jobs, “standing up for taxpayers,” fighting the heroin epidemic, repealing the New York gun-control legislation known as the SAFE Act, combating Lyme disease, urban revitalization, and “restoring faith in government.” ….. Serino said the SAFE Act, enacted in the wake of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, is “stripping law-abiding citizens of the rights that our founders and veterans fought to protect,” and she called for improved mental health services and “getting guns from criminals.” …”

Smythe v. Serino: NY’s 41st Senate district candidates on the issues:

“… Smythe supports the work of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence and various other groups advocating for gun control measures. She believes that “protecting our kids from gun violence should not be a controversial or partisan issue” and claims that Serino continues to block “all” gun safety measures. Serino has co-sponsored legislation to repeal the 2013 SAFE Act, which the New York State Legislature passed after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting to increase penalties for illegal gun use and insists that the state should be focusing on mental health-related prevention. Serino also voted against S.8121, which ensures that convicted domestic abusers do not have access to firearms. In her most recent term, she opposed bills increasing penalties for improper gun storage, prohibiting firearms on school campuses and establishing 30-day waiting periods, while also voting to prohibit both bump stocks and 3D printed firearms and establish a firearm buyback program …”

Candidate Profile: Steve Stern For New York Assembly District 10:

“Election Day is right around the corner, and voters will choose between incumbent Democratic state Assemblyman Steve Stern and Republican challenger Jamie Silvestri in the general election Nov. 3 … “During my tenure in the Assembly, I have worked hard to: … Pass legislative initiatives that keep guns out of the wrong hands, secure our schools and keep our children and teachers safe …” …”

Candidate Profile: Burdick For New York State Assembly:

“Residents of northern and central Westchester will choose a new state Assembly representative Nov. 3 in the 2020 general election … Democrat Chris Burdick is seeking election to the State Assembly in District 93. His opponent, John Nuculovic, is running on the Republican and Conservative party lines … NYS currently has the most progressive state legislature in its history, and over the last year-and-a-half has achieved so much. However, there is still much more we can do on issues such as the environment, social justice, infrastructure and educational funding, health care, gun violence, and women’s rights …”

Shootings are up across the state

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Gov. Cuomo is forced to acknowledge shootings are way up:

“… Governor Cuomo stated that shootings are up 100% across the state. He also added that 86% of the shooting victims are people of color. “New Yorkers are not wrong, there is a crime problem,” Gov. Cuomo said …”

It is blindingly obvious that his SAFE Act is a policy failure.

In light of this, has any candidate or incumbent running for election called for 2A reforms including SAFE repeal?

No.

Unlikely, but ….

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The Times-Union reports:

“President Donald Trump said he will try to win New York in the November presidential election, citing support across upstate, on Long Island and with voters who have changed their minds about him. “I’m going to give New York a very good shot, because the same people that voted against me like me now,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News’ Laura Ingraham …”

With Democrats outnumbering Republicans about 2.2 to 2.3 to 1 in the state I would normally dismiss this out of hand.  Two reasons I’m not are:

  1. The level of anger directed at Gov. Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio over their mishandling of COVID.
  2. The large number of Biden/Harris signs I’ve seen in the Columbia, Dutchess and Ulster counties.  If Democrats are confidant of winning New York why are they spending money on all these signs here?  When you cross over the border into Berkshire County there’s hardly any signs for any races.

I know it’s a long shot, but it would be hilarious of Trump could pull it off.

Newsbits

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Saturday’s Newsbits:

The Town of Kingsbury will hold a public hearing on October 5 @ 7:00pm on whether to allow pistol license holders to carry on town property.  A vote on the issue will take place sometime thereafter.

Elections:

Gun Industry:

Jurisprudence:

Legislation:

Politics:

Northwell Health querying patients about guns

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According to Newsday:

“Starting later this month, Northwell staff at two Long Island hospitals and a third on Staten Island will add a question to their routine screening of emergency room patients: Do you have a gun in your house? The question is part of a new screening program designed to analyze patients’ risk for firearm injury. The program will be funded under a $1.4 million grant from the National Institutes of Health that Northwell received to study gun violence prevention …”

Fuck that.

“… As part of the Northwell study, clinicians in the three hospitals’ emergency departments will ask patients specific questions about having firearms in their homes and determine their risk of injury. Each response is scored and embedded into the patient’s electronic health record, which will help guide discussions and establish next steps for care. Motivational interviews, education and other resources will also be available …”

By that they mean re-education propaganda from gun control outfits. There is absolutely no medical reason to ask for this information, let alone include it in patient files.

“… Northwell’s NIH grant comes as gun violence remains the leading cause of premature death in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention …”

Bullshit. Heart disease is far an away the most common cause of death and much of that can be prevented. Suicide is #10 on the CDC list and not all of that is with a firearm.

“… [Dr. Chethan Sathya] added that the grant will “fully support We Ask Everyone. Firearm Safety is a Health Issue and allow us to expand upon the limited clinical studies that have primarily focused on outpatient settings or used targeted vs. universal screening, which can exclude at-risk patients.” …”

That’s part of a lobbying agenda and not at all health related.

Mimi walks in

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Bad news out of Westchester: The long shot Republican candidate for District Attorney Bruce Bendish dropped out of the race.

This means Mimi Rocah, who won the Democrat primary over incumbent Anthony Scarpino, will walk into office unopposed in January where I predict she will be one of the loudest voices in the state for more gun control:

“… “Not having an opponent does not change the fact that we have a lot of work to do to ensure conviction integrity, accountability, prevent gun violence, secure justice for domestic violence victims and sexual assault survivors and implement my revolutionary transparency plan at the Westchester County DA’s office,” she said …”