All about guns, legislation and politics in New York
Friday’s Newsbits:
Elections:
Jurisprudence:
Politics:
Everytown/Mike Bloomberg has renewed Ostroff Associates lobbying contract for New York State @ $10,000 per month.
From Gov. Cuomo’s State of the State:
“… “Under the leadership of Governor Cuomo, New York has long led the nation’s fight against domestic violence and with the tragic increase in this heinous acts spurred on by the pandemic, we are doubling-down on those efforts,” said Melissa DeRosa, Secretary to the Governor and Chair of the New York State Council on Women and Girls. “This disgusting behavior must end and to do that, we are fighting to ensure abusers can no longer exploit loopholes to obtain guns and are the ones forced pay for the results of their devastation … Currently, in order to disqualify individuals found guilty of serious misdemeanors from obtaining a New York gun license, they must be found to have committed the crime against someone with whom they were in a domestic relationship after a separate hearing. Many disqualifying domestic violence misdemeanors are not “labeled” as such because the process to label state-disqualifying DV misdemeanors is cumbersome. While New York took a step towards closing this loophole in 2020 by ensuring that court clerks report these disqualifying convictions in a timely manner, some convicted of serious misdemeanors may still be able to purchase a gun if this multi-step process is not followed. As a result, some convicted of serious misdemeanors have still been allowed to purchase a gun. Governor Cuomo proposes the creation of a domestic violence misdemeanor label to close the domestic violence gun-purchasing loophole. …”
I expect a bill to be introduced on that soon.
As I predicted, the new Westchester D.A. is going to be pointman on gun control:
A convicted abuser should not be allowed to purchase a gun. This loophole must be closed this year. Thank you to @NYGovCumo @NYSOPDV & NYS Council on Women & Girls for making this part of the #SOT2021 & taking a holistic, survivor-centered approach to gender-based violence.
— DA Mimi Rocah (@WestchesterDA) January 11, 2021
The 2021-22 legislative session in Albany has begun. Normally this starts with the Governor giving his State of the State Address, but because the state has a deep fiscal hole Cuomo has put it off until Monday the 11th with the hope for a bailout from the feds.
I have seen no indication that Cuomo will include a call for more gun control in the SoS. That does not mean, however, the legislature will not send him more legislation to sign. At a minimum, I expect multiple “ghost guns” crap bills to pass including S-13, S-14 and maybe A-483. Do not expect any noticeable opposition from either NRA & company or the GOP caucuses on this issue.
Mimi Rocah was sworn-in as Westchester D.A. this afternoon and she’s made it clear pushing for “red flag” gun control implementation is high on her agenda:
“… She also said she’d target rising gun violence in the county by taking steps including a mandatory red-flag notification for domestic violence victims to tell them they can have guns removed from their partners’ possession. “We must get guns off the street and out of the hands of violent offenders,” Rocah said. “And, while there are no simple answers, there is more we can do.” …”
Believe it. She’s going to use the D.A.’s office as a bully pulpit to push for whatever nutty schemes Moms come up with just like Jeanine Pirro did when she held the office.
The following bills have been re-introduced for the 2021-22 legislative session which begins on January 6.
“Statistics from the NYPD show a surge in gun violence that the city hasn’t seen in more than a decade. Shootings are up nearly 96% in the first eleven months of this year. In November alone, there were 115 shootings — a 112% increase from the same time last year. There were also 28 murders last month, driving the murder rate up 38% …”
It’s not just the City that has seen a big increase, it’s all over the state (Albany, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo).
Has any elected called out the Governor and/or the legislature for the obvious failure of the state’s gun control laws including Cuomo’s signature SAFE Act? No.
Has anyone called for repeal of any of New York’s gun control laws? No.
Has anyone advocated 2A reforms for New York state? No.
Where is the problem?
City & State lists their top picks for lobbyists in the state.
Of note, #5 is Ostroff Associates which currently represents Everytown and #9 Park Strategies, which ostensibly represents the NSSF.
