News12 roundtable with spokesmen from Moms Demand Action, Sportsmen’s Association for Firearms Education and local students.
Newsbits
Sunday’s Newsbits:
Legislation:
Politics:
- Maybe Schneiderman Needs Self Control, Not Gun Control – CCRKBA
- Conners: Up to sportsmen to judge reactions to NRA
- Weingarten rips Trump’s push for teachers to carry weapons
Jurisprudence:
- NY Regulator Fines Insurers, Broker Over NRA-Branded Gun Owner Liability Policies
- NRA sues NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo for using financial regulator to “blacklist” NRA
Elections:
Vote for the Homo, Not the Cuomo
In response to the Governor’s “suggestion” banks evaluate doing business with the NRA, the Association filed a lawsuit in WNY challenging the directive:
“The National Rifle Association on Friday sued New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state’s financial regulator for engaging in what it said was a “blacklisting campaign” aimed at swaying banks and insurers to stop doing business with the gun advocacy group …”
Whether or not the lawsuit has any merits, neither Governor Cuomo nor the legislature takes things like this seriously. They go on all the time. Politicians are not personally liable for defending the suit and such actions have little to no impact on re-election campaigns.
If the NRA wants to hurt Cuomo back, they ought to do a “Vote for the Homo, Not the Cuomo“ GOTV effort for the Democrat primary. It does not matter that Cynthia Nixon is not pro-gun. The fire-mission should be defined as knocking out the incumbent and nothing more.
Giffords targets Faso
The Times Union reports:
“… Gabby Giffords is setting her sights on U.S. Rep. John Faso. The political arm of Giffords, a group launched by the former Arizona congresswoman to address gun violence in America, identified the Kinderhook Republican as one of 12 candidates, all Republicans, to defeat in November. Faso is the only New York candidate on the list …”
Good choice for them. I’m still surprised he won back in ’16. And I have not not forgotten about Faso’s support for “strict controls and regulations on handguns.”
Here is their ad:
The fall of Schneiderman
State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has resigned from office after allegations he’s into some kinky stuff.
One of the more interesting revelations was his mocking gun control advocates:
“… Manning Barish says that Schneiderman often mocked her political activism. When she told him of her plan to attend an anti-gun demonstration with various political figures and a group of parents from Sandy Hook Elementary School, he dismissed the effort, calling the demonstrators “losers.” …”
When Schnedierman was in the Senate he was the primary advocate for gun control so this statement may seem to be a bit odd. When he took over as A.G. that changed significantly and I think I know why.
One of my friends worked for the A.G.’s office and after Schneiderman was elected Mark got on his case about guns. After browbeating him about it, and giving him homemade oat bread, Scheinderman agreed to go shooting with Mark. I believe his only previous experience with guns was limited shooting of a .22 rifle years before. Mark let him shoot his long guns but told him he could not let him touch his handgun even on the range for instruction. Schneiderman responded that was stupid. He legitimately did not know what existing state law was. I believe this was when the light went on in his head and he realized gun control advocates were full of shit. During his time as A.G. Schneiderman largely gave up on gun control, even microstamping, which he championed in the legislature.
Newsbits
Tuesday’s Newsbits:
Legislation:
- School rifle teams among programs affected by proposed law
- Bid to ban marksmanship programs off target, officials say
- School teams fire back at proposed rifle ban
- Legislation threatens Le Roy trap team
Politics:
- Cuomo ramps up pressure against gun makers
- State fines second insurance company for underwriting NRA gun owner policies
- Remington, the Gun Maker, Is Set to Exit Bankruptcy
- Bank of America is still working with gunmaker Remington
Elections:
Time to collect
The Donald and Mike Pence both spoke at the NRA convention giving good, red meat speeches.
During Sen. John Cornyn’s address he mentioned that he is the Senate sponsor of the reciprocity bill S.446, which has been sitting quietly since it’s introduction last year. The only recent action has been the addition of newly elected Mississippi Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith as the 40th co-sponsor.
This proposal has been floating around for more than 20 years. There is nothing left to discuss about it. It is time for NRA to give Trump and Mitch McConnell an ultimatum: Bring S.446 to the floor for a straight up or down vote or don’t come around asking for handouts this November. Whether it passes or not there needs to be a recorded vote on the bill. Republicans owe NRA big time and with NRA’s membership approaching 6 million it is time to collect.
Gun ownership among women continues to rise
Proving our point
Bloomberg news reports, “NRA-Branded Insurance Program Is Unlawful, New York Regulators Say“:
“A National Rifle Association-branded insurance program unlawfully provided liability coverage to gun owners in the event they were charged with a crime involving their firearms, according to New York state regulators … The group advertises Carry Guard as the nation’s “most complete self-defense membership program” on its website, referring to Lockton’s plan as “comprehensive personal firearms liability insurance.” Regulators said the insurance unlawfully offered protection for certain acts of intentional wrongdoing and improperly provided coverage for acts of self defense. Gun control advocates have criticized the program, referring to it as “murder insurance.” …”
I knew this was coming because for years gun control advocates have pushed bills requiring gun owners have liability insurance (currently A-349, A-2260 and S-2857A) and the response has always been it isn’t legal.
While the antis are crowing about this decision now, the NYS Department of Financial Services just nuked one of their key agenda items.
Newsbits
Wednesday’s Newsbits:
Legislation:
- Cuomo signs anti-domestic violence gun bill
- Phillips Touts Gun Control Bill As Cuomo Approves It
- New York Governor Pushes For Longer Wait Time for Some Gun Purchases
- Gianaris Introduces Gun Bill That Would Track States Where Guns are Purchased
- Gun Control Group Giffords Backs ‘Iron Pipeline’ Bill
- Local Trapshooting Coach Fires Back At Lawmaker’s Proposal
Politics:
Elections: