Jump to the 4:11 mark:
Category: Moonbattery
Leftists try intimidating Rep. Katko
WRVO reports on attempts to intimidate Congressman Katko:
“Protesters in Syracuse are demanding Rep. John Katko (R-Camillus) do something on gun control following the recent shootings … Donna Oppedisano, a teacher at Jamesville-DeWitt High School, said her worst nightmare is the shooting of students in her school. She said she was outraged when she saw an advertisement for Kevlar backpacks for kids to carry to school. “What will it take Representative Katko, for you to stand up in support of sensible gun measures?” Oppedisano said. “Universal background checks. Why won’t you stand up for universal background checks? Why won’t you stand up for a ban on assault weapons?” … Speaking with reporters in Oswego last week about the shootings, Katko said the rhetoric on both sides of the aisle needs to tone down … Katko is pushing a red flag bill he introduced last year that would take guns away from someone deemed a threat. He is less concerned with universal background checks, he said, which already passed the House, and currently exists in New York State. Katko’s spokesperson would not say if he would support a ban on assault weapons.”
Even though it appears to have been only a handful of wackos (Oppedisano has done this before, see examples 1, 2 and 3) I don’t trust Katko on 2A.
Gillibrand on gun control and the future of the NRA
That explains it
The Washington Examiner reports, “Kirsten Gillibrand is what 0% in the 2020 polls looks like“:
“… It’s not a visibility problem. Seven in 10 Americans know who she is. They just don’t like her very much …”
“… In an interview with Yahoo Finance’s Rick Newman, Gillibrand — a 2020 presidential candidate— said evidence suggested the NRA is starting to lose bits of its political impact. She cited the survivors of 2018’s school shooting in Parkland, Florida —many of whom have become vocal in the debate for more gun control. “The young people of America are raising up,” the New York Democrat said …”
That explains it.
Demonstrating failure
“National Gun Violence Awareness Day” was this past Saturday:
“Hundreds of Brooklynites dressed in orange marched across the Brooklyn Bridge from Cadman Plaza on Saturday in an annual demonstration against gun violence …”
Was the demonstration a success?
“A 40-year-old man was fatally shot on a Harlem street corner early Monday, police said …“
No.
Kicking off “Gun Violence Awareness Month”
So-called “Gun Violence Awareness Month” kicks off today with a noon press conference by NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.
In the Senate, S-6151 will likely advance to 3rd reading today and be voted on later in the week.
On the Assembly Codes agenda for Tuesday:
NSSF thinks Pothole Al is golden
“While Gov. Andrew Cuomo and lawmakers debate a litany of issues before the Albany session adjourns on June 19, former GOP US Sen.-turned-powerhouse lobbyist Al D’Amato is co-chairing a “Long Island cocktail reception” fundraiser in Great Neck Sunday for the governor, The Post has learned. And he has also hit up his roster of 90 clients to kick in to Cuomo’s campaign kitty. “I’m doing something with a group of people for Gov. Cuomo, I will be a participant,” D’Amato told The Post …”
One of those 90 clients Park Strategies represents is the NSSF.
Years ago a former contract lobbyist convinced NSSF that their problems in New York stemmed from the fact that the legislature wasn’t hearing enough bullshit from NRA/NSSF and that they ought to hire a Albany-based PR firm to do it full time. NSSF then retained Capitol Group and from 2011-18 threw hundreds of thousands of dollars at them. Of course, they got nothing good from the legislature in return because PR isn’t the problem.
So starting this year NSSF switched to Park Strategies paying them $6000/month plus expenses, apparently thinking that having one of the sleaziest political figures in the state tell their bullshit to the legislature is going to pay off. It will, for Al, when he cashes their monthly checks. As for the firearms industry, they would get more action by dumping a bag of money off the balcony into the Well of the LOB than having Park Strategies on retainer.
A-663/S-5801, animal cruelty provisions
A-663, adds wildlife animals to those subject to the animal cruelty provisions, now has a Senate companion S-5801.
Despite what the justification statement says, the ultimate goal of this is to ban all hunting (even farming) as a form of cruelty to animals. The driving force behind this, Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal, is a rabid animal “rights” activist, vegan and antigunner.
Antigun lobby day
New Yorkers Against Gun Violence will be holding their annual lobby day in Albany on May 7.
They’re busing in children again from the City. I expect some sort of spectacle will take place in The Well of the LOB.
Cuomo can’t win
Despite Gov. Cuomo’s best efforts, Giffords still only gives New York an A- for it’s gun control laws.
It seems that no matter what Cuomo does, the antis will not give him their highest grade. California and New Jersey each got full A’s this time around.
If he were smart (he’s not) he would have dropped the issue after SAFE. Will he learn this time?