City of Albany Resolution 9.12.24R

Several City of Albany Councilmen have introduced Resolution 9.12.24R, a nonsense resolution that says:

“… the Council calls for those in possession of handguns, whether legal or illegal, to stop using these weapons in moments of anger or retribution and instead calls for individuals to reach out for help in settling disputes or arguments …”

These are unserious people.

Gun Violence Intervention Hotline

New bill introduced to the NYC Council Committee on Public Safety:

INT 82-2024, Requires the Office for Neighborhood Safety and the Prevention of Gun Violence to establish a three-digit emergency hotline, known as the Gun Violence Intervention Hotline, to aid individuals seeking assistance with mental health and supportive services and programs related to gun violence intervention.

Newsbits

Tuesday’s Newsbits:

NRA:

Politics:

No one does this

New bill S-7640, Prohibits gun industry members from directing advertising, marketing, promoting, designing, or selling certain firearm-related products in a manner that would encourage unlawful purchase, possession, or use by underage individuals in the state; provides criteria for determining whether a gun industry member reasonably appears to support, recommend, or encourage underage individuals to unlawfully purchase a qualified product.

What legitimate business encourages the illegal purchase and misuse of their product?

None.

Hunter Biden makes 2A defense

Too funny:

“Hunter Biden pushed back Monday against gun charges filed against him, challenging the case on multiple fronts as unconstitutional and politically motivated … His defense attorney argued the gun case should be tossed out because an appeals court has found the law violates the Second Amendment under new standards set by the Supreme Court …”

Watch as gun control advocates and legacy media outlets rush to Hunter’s defense.

House Majority Runs Through NY’s 17th District

The Yonkers Times has an article worth reading, “The House Majority Runs Through New York’s 17th Congressional District.

Incumbent Mike Lawler might not be an outspoken 2A advocate, but he follows me on Twitter and unlike so many other local Republicans, isn’t pissing me off.

Former Congressman Mondaire Jones is trying for a comeback. He has an antigun record and is proud of it:

“… He effectively advocated on behalf of everyday people in his district by … passing the most significant gun safety legislation in a generation …”

The other declared Democrat candidate is Liz Whitmer Gereghty who is trying to position herself as a “moderate” alternative.  From her campaign website:

Commonsense Gun Safety Reform

What Republicans don’t want you to notice is that their refusal to enact common sense gun safety legislation that the vast majority of the country supports results in public schools having to allocate more and more of their budgets to security and you feel that in your tax bill. The cost of gun violence in America is estimated at $557 billion EVERY YEAR – almost $1700 per American. For comparison, in 2021, Medicare spending was $829 billion, or 10% of the federal budget – the cost of our gun violence epidemic is staggering but Republicans don’t want to talk about that. We are actually paying to be less safe in our schools, our houses of worship and our public spaces.

True public safety is not achieved by making schools feel more like prisons, ignoring the need for training and resources for law enforcement, and ensuring people are so angry and afraid they shoot and kill someone who mistakenly pulled into the wrong driveway. Public safety is not about minimizing body count but about working to prevent a tragedy. We should be investing in mental health professionals and social workers, training on violence interruption and deescalation, and access to emergency resources. Mike Lawler and his Republican colleagues want to talk about crime, about backing the police, but never about common sense gun safety legislation that would make our communities and our law enforcement officers safer.

Over the last few years we have heard a lot about cashless bail and defunding the police. I agree that those accused of non-violent crimes should be able to go to work, pay their rent and take care of their children while they await their day in court. We should not be ruining peoples’ lives or their children’s lives if they cannot afford bail. But cashless bail doesn’t make sense for violent offenders. Similarly, “defunding” the police is not a solution any more than only funding police in pursuit of public safety. Complex problems are never solved with slogans. We can be both tough on crime and committed to investing in resources and strategies to prevent it.

In the New York Assembly, Mike Lawler voted against requiring a license for possession of semi-automatic firearms, against authorizing the state to sue gun manufacturers for damages caused by guns, and against requiring social media account disclosure for those applying for a handgun license. While serving in the US House, he has repeatedly called the Trump indictments a weaponization of the Department of Justice. New Yorkers have known for a very long time that Donald Trump has little respect for the law and that accountability is way overdue. We cannot continue to accept leaders who will fear monger around crime but won’t do anything to address our gun violence epidemic and abandon their support for law enforcement when their allies are being held accountable.

At this point, 2A supporters should stick with Lawler.

NYAGV to host gun control panel in Buffalo

New Yorkers Against Gun Violence is partnering with Buffalo Councilwoman-Elect Zeneta Everhart to host a panel discussion.

WHEN: Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at 5:30pm (light fare will be served followed by program beginning at 6:00pm)

WHERE:  Canisius University, Science Hall, Buffalo

REGISTER: https://secure.everyaction.com/qFAuDC_n00mSICjrvGNLPg2

Charges dropped against Vernikov

The gun charges against Councilwoman Inna Vernikov have been dropped for a dubious reason:

“… after Vernikov surrendered her gun, the police examined it and found that it was missing the recoil spring assembly, rendering it inoperable, Brooklyn district attorney’s office spokesperson Oren Yaniv said. “In order to sustain this charge, it must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the weapon in question was capable of firing bullets,” Yaniv said. “Absent such proof, we have no choice but to dismiss these charges.” …”

I don’t believe this.

Vernikov isn’t stupid so I can’t see her forgetting to put her pistol back together correctly after cleaning it. I have doubts the slide would stay on correctly without the spring either.

I suspect the real reasons the charge was dropped was because 1.) D.A. Gonzalez didn’t want to defend the “sensitive places” law in court and 2.) electeds didn’t want to piss off an already upset Jewish population in the City which generally supports Democrats, but could reconsider that given the increased love and attention the Party is giving to Hamas supporters.

He’s helping

WWTI reports:

“North country Assemblyman Scott Gray is proposing a compromise aimed at reducing the burden of new ammunition purchase restrictions on law-abiding gun owners in New York state … Bill A.8161 proposes that a background check for the initial purchase of ammunition would still be required, however, upon approval, a certification will be issued that can be used for a twelve-month period. With this certification, consumers will not be required to go through another arduous background check for a year when purchasing ammunition …”

He thinks he’s helping. He isn’t.

“… Gray added that he hopes both sides can come together and pass common-sense legislation …”

Fuck that. Gray is just too spineless to call out the failure of yet another gun control scheme.

Fortunately, as a Republican his bills are DOA so we don’t have to worry about this one.