All about guns, legislation and politics in New York
I am honored to be named a Gun Sense Candidate by @MomsDemand Action. As the leader of a community struck by a terrible mass shooting, I will always fight for common sense gun reforms to better protect all.
– Mark Poloncarz pic.twitter.com/kuFMF9R9wZ— Mark Poloncarz (@markpoloncarz) September 15, 2023
Vote for Chrissy Casilio to get rid of him.
Saturday’s Newsbits:
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Politics:
A handful of crackpot Moms are upset that SCOTUS will be taking up another gun case next year which I suspect the antis will lose.
In addition two local courts have ruled against New York’s so-called “red flag” laws and supporters are seriously worried they’re next on the chopping block.
Reporting at the Long Island Press identifies 3 candidates running for Nassau Co. Legislature this fall attended this dog-and-pony show: Alexis Pace, District #4, Seth Koslow, District #5 and Weihua Yan, District #10. Vote for their opponents no matter who they are.
I don’t know if this is a sign of things to come, but I have been seeing campaign signs for Republican candidates already in Columbia, Dutchess and Ulster counties. No Democrats yet. This is a bit earlier than usual. Awhile back I saw an advertisement from a GOP-leaning PAC awhile back for a political tracker, presumably to follow Pat Ryan in NY18. I don’t know if this means the Republicans are getting their shit together or if it’s just a coincidence. I have also been getting an increase in spam from GOP candidates from all over the country looking for donations.
Sunday’s Newsbits:
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Here’s an opportunity for 2A supportive Democrats to take action:
“New York’s Syracuse region is home to a congressional district that has long tantalized Democrats, but their efforts to win it have — in recent cycles — ended in failure. President Joe Biden carried what is now New York’s 22nd Congressional District by nearly 8 points in 2020. Two years later, Republican Brandon Williams, a Navy veteran and political newbie, won the seat by a few thousand votes. Now, with control of the U.S. House of Representatives potentially running through the Empire State next year, the party is eying the seat once again … Several Democrats have already launched their campaigns … Utica associate professor Clemmie Harris, a former state trooper and aide to Gov. David Paterson, is also making a bid … He lists combating gun violence among his top priorities … He argues the AR-15 should not be available for domestic purchase and says gun violence should be treated as a matter of public safety and public health …”
This guy’s a stinker. 2A wins if he loses the primary. Make it so.
From the Associated Press:
“The nation’s most prominent gun safety groups are joining together to back President Joe Biden in 2024, an early endorsement that underscores Biden’s grip on key Democratic coalitions as the party seizes on gun policy as a politically advantageous issue ahead of his reelection campaign. The endorsement, obtained by The Associated Press in advance of the formal release, represents the first time the groups have jointly announced support for a presidential candidate. The groups include Brady and its youth-led arm, Team Enough; Community Justice Action Fund; Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund and its grassroots networks, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action; and Giffords …”
Who cares?
They’re trying to make it seem like this is a big deal, having a bunch of groups join together, but in reality they’re pretty much all the same astroturf with little substance.
The corruption allegations against Biden are substantive and could sink his re-election campaign. So could his disastrous policies. There’s no other prominent unifying Democrat ready to take his place and they’re getting worried.
Sunday’s Newsbits:
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Politics:
City & State reports:
“Thursday, the Brooklyn Democratic Party will hold its official judicial convention to determine which candidates should receive the party’s all-important endorsement for Supreme Court judge. There are 16 people competing to become judges on the Supreme Court – which despite the name is the state’s main trial court, hearing criminal cases involving felony charges and civil cases where more than $25,000 is at stake – but only six vacancies on the court to fill … The real decision-making happened Tuesday night in the back room of Nick’s Lobster House in Marine Park, where the Brooklyn Democratic Party’s executive committee – a group of 44 unpaid district leaders, two for each of the borough’s 22 Assembly districts – got together and held an informal vote to decide which six candidates should receive the nomination …”
This is the reality of politics and why 2A advocates need to be involved with their local Republican and Democrat party: Go to their events and fundraisers, be a part of the candidate selection and election process.
The Ithaca Times reports:
“In response to the increasing threat of gun crimes both locally and throughout the country, Alderperson Robert Cantelmo has proposed legislation that would provide directions for gun-owners regarding how to safely store their firearms. If approved, failure to follow the guidelines would result in fine and potential for civil legal action if the unsecured firearm is used to harm another person or commit a crime … A violation of the proposal is punishable by a civil fine of $500 for the first offense, and the fine would increase to $1,000 for additional violations in a one-year period … Alderperson Kris Haines-Sharp asked Acting Chief of Police Ted Schwartz about who would be responsible for enforcing the proposal, and if IPD has the resources to enforce it. Acting Chief Schwartz responded saying, “We honestly cannot proactively enforce this.” He added that the proposal would make a violation a city code violation that would “essentially be the same seriousness as jaywalking or riding your bike on the sidewalk.” … Even though enforcement of the proposal seems to be difficult, Cantelmo said that approving it would “create a standard of compliance for what the safe storage of firearms are in the city.” He continued saying, “I think setting the standard of what it means to be a responsible gun owner in the city is not beyond the reasonable scope of what we should be considering.” … Following the debate surrounding the proposal, Cantelmo offered to table the proposal and invite representatives from communities that have approved similar gun safety proposals to further discuss how similar proposals have worked in their communities …”
Notice that Cantelmo isn’t really interested in solving a problem. This appears to me to be nothing more than a public relations campaign stunt. He is running for Mayor this fall and “public safety reforms” is one of his main issues.