Delaware Co. opposes antigun bills

The Delaware Co. legislature passed a resolution in opposition to the annual NYAGV package the Assembly brings up every year.  From the Daily Star:

“… Delhi Supervisor Peter Bracci presented a resolution opposing bills passed in the state Assembly that he said would have a detrimental effect on hunters, sportsmen and legal gun owners and would curtail rights guaranteed by the Second Amendment. The list included 11 bills that include provisions requiring the renewal of firearms licenses after five years, stringent restrictions on firearms dealers, new training requirements, banning the sale of weapons that are .50-caliber or larger, and others … “I was in law enforcement for 38 years and none of these laws would do anything to reduce crime,” Bracci said … Middletown Supervisor Len Utter said, “This is probably the most important resolution we will pass in a long time. There is a movement in our country to dismantle the Constitution and this is just one step.” …”

Winning by losing

According to AP writer Mark Sherman, the antis can win by losing.  From his op-ed, “Supreme Court scrutinizes state, local gun control“:

“Gun control advocates are hoping they can win by losing when the Supreme Court rules on state and local regulation of firearms.  The justices will be deciding whether the right to possess guns guaranteed by the Second Amendment – like much of the rest of the Bill of Rights – applies to states as well as the federal government. It’s widely believed they will say it does …”

Sherman can’t be serious.  The core issue for all antigun groups is their desire for nothing short of a total prohibition on private firearms ownership.

“… But even if the court strikes down handgun bans in Chicago and its suburb of Oak Park, Ill., that are at issue in the argument to be heard Tuesday, it could signal that less severe rules or limits on guns are permissible. The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence is urging the court not to do anything that would prevent state and local governments “from enacting the reasonable laws they desire and need to protect their families and communities from gun violence.” …”

And by “reasonable laws” they mean a total ban.  That is why the Brady’s defended Washington D.C.’s total ban on handgun ownership and functional long gun ownership.  Incorporation takes prohibition off the table.  Yet, somehow the antis will come out ahead?

Recognizing their primary reason for being is going away, what have the the Brady’s been all hot and heavy about for the past month?  So-called “assault weapons”?  Microstamping?  Nope.  They’re attacking Starbucks for allowing open carry in their shops.  It’s not going well for them either.  Is this the behavior of winners?  I think not.

Banning machetes

A-10051, Relates to the sale or promotional distribution of machetes and includes the possession of a machete under the crime of criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree.

Cuomo’s race to lose

With Gov. Paterson giving up on running for a full term, the governorship is pretty much Andrew Cuomo’s to lose short of yet another scandal that would keep him out of the race.  Nobody is paying much attention to Rick Lazio.  Cuomo’s only real worry right now is Steve Levy who doesn’t seem to want to go away.

Legislative Report #19

Legislative Report #19 is now available for download.  I’m waiting for a modified version of the renewable license proposal to be introduced.  Amy Paulin’s office had an idea the DMV could process them.

Trying to remain relevant

Fresh off their defeat with the new federal law allowing guns in national parks, two antigun organizations are merging in an attempt to remain relevant: Freedom States Alliance and States United to Prevent Gun Violence.  It looks as if FSA was just folded into SUPGV, much like when the Million Moms were absorbed by the Brady Campaign.  New Yorkers Against Gun Violence is the state affiliate of SUPGV.

Animal Rights Lobby Day

Animal Rights Lobby Day sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States and the New York League of Humane Voters will be held in Albany in the LOB/CAP on March 24 from 11:00am to 4:30pm.

Not dead

The renewable pistol license proposal is not dead. They’re trying to rewrite it.

Bloomberg for President in 2012

Paterson announces election campaign

Gov. Paterson has formally announced his election campaign.  He is trying to portray himself as an outsider.  Given that he has been part of the Albany machine for 25 years I don’t see this as a viable campaign strategy.