Month: August 2010
Ball v. Murphy
Kagan confirmed
Elena Kagan was easily confirmed to SCOTUS by a 63-37 vote.
Schumer, of course, argued that Kagan is “well within the judicial mainstream.” The Brady Bunch was more honest with their opinion of her:
“… With Ms. Kagan’s background as an advisor and legal counselor to former President Clinton, and her experience as the dean of Harvard Law School, the Supreme Court is welcoming a justice who will respect judicial precedent and one who recognizes that reasonable gun regulations can save lives …”
This Fox News report describes what is at stake:
“… Over the next decade, the Court is likely to decide another three or four gun-rights cases tracing the broad contours of this right, such as whether you can exercise this right outside your home, what sorts of guns are protected by this right, and how high of a bar legislatures must overcome to enact gun-control laws …”
This probably will include all or part of the Sullivan Act.
In recess
The Senate finally finished up the up the state budget and has left town. It is possible one or both houses will come back later in the year, but the session is pretty much over. With the legislature in recess, microstamping dies. It will probably be back next year, but Eric Schneiderman won’t.
Kagan’s confirmation
The Senate will likely confirm Elena Kagan as SCOTUS Justice this week. NRA doesn’t like it, but despite claims by some people that they are not putting their full weight into opposing her, I don’t think that is the case. The membership has been notified of their opposition and encouraged to contact their Senators, they have run television and print advertisements urging Senators to vote no, and they have said the confirmation vote will be considered when incumbent grades and endorsements are made this fall. What else are people expecting them to do?
The sad fact is the NRA is in all likelihood going to lose on this. I do not believe they have the ability to stop Kagan’s confirmation.
Schneiderman’s manifesto
Eric Schneiderman has released his manifesto outlining what his priorities as State Attorney General would be. On page 21 we have this:
“Form an I-95 Anti-Gun Smuggling Coalition: As Attorney General, Eric will employ high-tech, multi-state strategies to fight illegal guns and gangs to protect our schools, streets and communities from violence. Over 90 percent of illegal guns seized in New York City originated in states with lax gun control laws, particularly states along Interstate 95. New York cannot solve this problem alone. We must implement a new regional, interstate and multi-state approach to illegal gun trafficking. Using the Organized Crime Task Force, Eric will lead an “I-95″ coalition of state Attorneys General, and state and local law enforcement agencies, to share and track data on gun crimes and Schneiderman Attorney General Agenda | Criminal Justice gun sales between states. With the OCTF, sharing intelligence with other states and working jointly on trafficking cases, state and local agencies together will attack the flow of illegal guns at the source. In addition, Eric will deploy the sophisticated tools of OCTF within New York State to stop the movement of illegal guns across county lines. He will aggressively use wiretaps and physical surveillance to track the gangs that arm their members with illegal firearms, often in support of their narcotics trade.”
NYC Legislative Report #2
NYC Legislative Report #2 is now available.
Mayor Mike is still pushing his carrying while intoxicated idea.