Month: December 2017

Newsbits

On: By: admin

I’m going to try something new for the blog.  I come across a lot of stories that I think are of interest to gun owners, but that I don’t feel the need to write a separate post on.  I’m going to compile them into a more or less daily list of links people can check out for themselves.

Monday morning newsbits:

Williams from the Left

On: By: admin

Governor Cuomo is not liked by many on the Left.

One of those, NYC Councilman Jumaane Williams wants to run a Democrat primary against the Governor:

“City Council member Jumaane Williams is gearing up to face Gov. Cuomo in a primary.  Williams, who is also running for Council Speaker, took his first official steps toward entering a Democratic primary against the governor in 2018 when he formed a campaign committee this week …”

A couple of important things about Williams:

  • He is very antigun.  See #1, #2 and #3.
  • Many “progressives” don’t like him due to his religious beliefs.  See #1, #2 and #3.

Williams does not poses a serious threat to Cuomo, but a primary between the two would provide some comic relief.

So, how is recertification going?

On: By: admin

So, how is the pistol license recertification going?

Erie County:

“… Erie County officials say there’s an estimated 50,000 pistol permit holders in the county, who have yet to recertify their weapons, under the SAFE Act …”

Niagara County:

“… According to the Niagara County Clerk’s office, there are 28,000 pistol permit holders in the county whose firearms were registered more than five years ago. Those people are required to get recertified under the SAFE Act by Jan. 31, 2018 or they will lose their permits.  Clerk Joseph Jastrzemski, a Republican, said he received updated figures from the State Police this week, showing just a little more than 8,000 of his constituents have gone through the recertification process so far …”

Sullivan County:

“… Sullivan County Clerk Dan Briggs painted of picture of thousands of angry residents calling county legislators after the state demands the residents surrender their handguns because those residents missed, or were unaware of, the recertification deadline.  At a meeting at the government center on December 7, Briggs told lawmakers that as of the end of November, 2,829 residents had recertified their permits out of an estimated total of about 14,000 … What happens if they don’t? Briggs said, “Come February letters are going to be put together… informing people their privileges are lost, and they should make arrangements to surrender their guns.” Several lawmakers expressed agreement with councilperson Joe Perello who said, “They’re going to go apesh*t.” …”

It’s probably like this all over the state.

Syracuse resolution in opposition to H.R.38

On: By: admin

The Syracuse Common Council will take up a resolution in opposition to H.R.38/S.446 at the next meeting of the Common Council set for Monday, December 18 at 1:00pm.

Here is a copy of the resolution (PDF).

Cuomo’s domestic violence proposal

On: By: admin

WTEN reports:

“During New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 2018 State of the State address, he plans to announce a proposal on removing firearms from domestic abusers.  The governor’s office says given the inextricable link between domestic violence and lethal gun violence, the legislation will require anyone convicted of a domestic violence crime convictions, including misdemeanors, to have firearms immediately removed.  The legislation would also add measures to keep firearms out of the hands of those who commit domestic violence …”

No bill has been introduced yet, but it is probably going to require anyone simply accused of domestic violence to give up their guns. That is what the antis have been floating around the country.  I’m going to assume Cuomo’s proposal will be similar to legislation Senator Brad Hoylman introduced earlier this year, S-67 and/or S-5447.

No matter what it is, the Senate Republicans won’t even try to fight it.

 

Our first contestant

On: By: admin

The first Republican to formally announce their intention to run for Governor next year is Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb:

“… Kolb, 65, has represented the Finger Lakes Region in the Assembly since 2000. He became the GOP leader in 2009. He has extensive business experience as the former president of Refractron Technologies and a co-founder of North American Filter Corporation …”

Tim Callery helped Kolb get elected back in 2000 and he has been reliably pro-gun since then.  Kolb is a NRA member.

On the downside he has little money or resources and next to no name recognition south of Albany.  I have doubts as to his ability to go the distance even in a Republican primary.

Non-issues

On: By: admin

Concealed Nation has an article, “What You Need To Know About The Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act Of 2017.”

They have some issues with the bill:

“… Problem #1: A permit holder would only be able to carry in a state that, “has a statute that allows residents of the State to obtain licenses or permits to carry concealed firearms” OR “does not prohibit the carrying of concealed firearms by residents of the State for lawful purposes.” The problem with the above text is that it provides a strong incentive for restrictive states (like Maryland, New Jersey, Hawaii, New York & California) to prohibit concealed carry altogether …”

New York will never prohibit concealed carry.  The Sullivan Act was as much about graft as it was sticking it to the Italians.  Nobody wants to stop this gravy train.

“… Problem #2: “This [law] shall not be construed to supersede or limit the laws of any State that—(1) permit private persons or entities to prohibit or restrict the possession of concealed firearms on their property; or (2) prohibit or restrict the possession of firearms on any State or local government property, installation, building, base, or park.” What this means is that those middle-of-the-road states (like Oregon, Washington, Illinois and South Carolina) which likely won’t decide to eliminate concealed carry altogether, but also don’t necessarily want millions of visitors carrying guns in their state, will likely make it SUBSTANTIALLY more difficult to carry a gun in their state …”

New York’s licensing is already arbitrary while the NYPD just makes shit up.  This may be an issue elsewhere, but not locally.

Reciprocity bills have been around for over 20 years.  They don’t have to be perfect especially from a New York view to be a big plus for us because passing pretty much anything would open new legal and legislative avenues for us in the state.

House passes reciprocity

On: By: admin

The House passed CCW reciprocity yesterday.  The final vote was 231 to 198 in support.

The New York delegation voted as expected with the latest lame attempt at intimidating Lee Zeldin accomplishing nothing.

The vote was less than expected with the House Liberty Caucus opposing it based upon the “Fix NICS” amendment. I think NICS is a waste and should be scrapped, but I do not believe this amendment should be a deal-breaker.

Here is a press release from Elise Stefanik explaining her supportive vote.

Here is some PSH from Cy Vance expressing his (phony) outrage at the bill.

The Governor too was angry:

“The appalling House vote for concealed carry reciprocity puts all New Yorkers at risk. This legislation would let individuals from out-of-state convicted of certain crimes carry hidden, loaded weapons in New York, in violation of New York’s much better, safer law. Only the NRA could propose something so ill-considered, dangerous and vile.

“New York passed the strongest gun safety measures in the country, and instead of joining the fight against senseless gun violence, Washington is trying to make New York and the rest of the nation less safe.”

He’s pissed because he went all in on gun control thinking it was a political winner when, in fact, it turned into a real stinker for him.

New York Democrats went on the attack, but their aim was off:


New York Republicans never learn. You gain nothing by pandering to Democrats. They will attack you no matter how you vote.

Attacking Zeldin on reciprocity

On: By: admin

The antigun group formerly known as Americans for Responsible Solutions, now just Giffords, is planning on a targeted advertising buy against several Republican Congressmen in advance of the vote on H.R.38:

“… The ads come ahead of this week’s expected House vote on Concealed Carry Reciprocity, which, if enacted, would be a massive opening of gun laws across the country, forcing all states to accept gun licenses issued in any state … Digital ads will also go out against … Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) … All of these are at the top of Democrats’ 2018 pick-up hopes …”

They’ve tried intimidating Zeldin on gun control before in public and failed miserably.  Given that he is co-sponsoring the bill this latest effort was doomed before it even started.

If the antis want to waste money on stuff like this more power to them.