Sheriff Howard ahead in polls

Erie County Sheriff Tim Howard has been a vocal critic of the SAFE Act since it’s inception.

He’s up for re-election this year and I’ve been searching for polling data to see how he’s doing.  Erie has an almost 2-1 Democrat enrollment advantage.  Only thing I could find was this Buffalo News article on his opponent:

“… Even though [Bernard Tolbert] should compete this year as a favorite in heavily Democratic Erie County, most polls show him trailing — though far from out of it …”

Good.  We need to keep Howard around.

A Field of Dreams

Seen in a food plot in Orange County:

FUAC

If you build it, he will come …..

Briley chokes

I’m endorsing Briley chokes.  They helped me win three birds at the Tri-Village Rod & Gun Club’s Turkey Shoot today.

Briley Chokes

Tioga Co. supports H.R. 3576

The Tioga Co. legislature made their opinion known on 2A:

“… At the Sept. 12 session of the Tioga County Legislature, members unanimously passed a resolution urging Congress to pass the Second Amendment Guarantee Act (SAGA). The legislation, H.R. 3576 (SAGA), was proposed by Congressman Chris Collins (R-NY-27) and introduced into the House of Representatives in July of this year. In similar fashion as Tioga County, the Niagara County and Orleans County Legislatures in New York also passed resolutions in September …”

Good for them.

H.R.3576 isn’t exactly setting Congress on fire. It has only 14 co-sponsors and no Senate companion.

Still resolutions like this do have a purpose. It’s an eye-poke to Governor Cuomo and a reminder how much political clout passing his SAFE Act cost him.

Dick move, Joel

Joel Tyner is an antigun county legislator from northern Dutchess.  He’s also batshit nuts.  He gave these out on Halloween:

Joel Tyner's Halloween Handout

I’d have egged his house.

 

Vance tries to link reciprocity to terrorism

Manhattan D.A. Cy Vance attempts to exploit the terrorist attack in an effort to derail federal reciprocity. The topic comes up at the 7:12 mark:

16%

A new poll shows incumbent Rob Astorino in a statistical tie with challenger George Latimer.

Of note is this finding:

“… 16% said the most important issue is gun shows at the Westchester County Center …”

Since gun control advocates have never been able to turn out the vote I am going to assume this is 2A people upset at Latimer’s efforts to prohibit them.

Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right

As expected, the Clown Council passed into law Int 1724-2017:

“… The City Council voted Tuesday to require the NYPD to give out warnings to people applying for gun licenses and permits about the risks of firearm ownership, including higher suicide and accident rates … [Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito] said the goal is to “do to firearm ownership what cigarette warnings have done to tobacco consumption, by igniting a national movement to educate the public.” …”

If only they acted sooner, maybe this would have deterred Sayfullo Saipov.

While this was going on, the jokers at the Rochester City Council came out in opposition to reciprocity:

“Rochester City Councilmembers have issued a formal proclamation opposing legislation in Congress that would seek to establish Concealed Carry Reciprocity. Councilmember Molly Clifford said the law would give states less control over guns … “We certainly support legal gun ownership, but we think that it is important to take whatever steps we can to make sure that we have common sense gun regulations here in New York.” …”

If our laws are “common sense”, why are 42 states right-to-carry?

He has no shame

Yesterday an Islamic radical ran down a bunch of people in a rented pickup in lower Manhattan killing 8.

Today Governor Cuomo, Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner O’Neill held a press conference.

While De Blasio mentions “gun safety” at 44:28, the Governor could not contain himself. At 46:20 Cuomo chimes in about his SAFE Act and his desire to see it taken nationally.


Support the Con Con

There will be a question on the November ballot asking whether or not the state should hold a constitutional convention.  If approved there would be future votes on choosing delegates then actual changes to the constitution.

Looking at it from strictly a 2A perspective, I don’t believe there is much to get out of a Con Con:

  • For antigunners, there’s no real need.  The legislature can pass gun control bills at will.  The Governor just does not want more of it right now.
  • For pro-gunners, it’s doubtful we would get anything through.  I could see a creatively crafted re-wording of the pistol licensing law prohibiting discrimination that would make the state “shall issue”, but would it pass the voters?  Probably not.

With 2A off the table, the benefits of a Con Con to gun owners would be indirect.  I can see these items proposed and passed:

  • Term limits.  Far too many old farts have been around for 30+ years.  Albany needs new blood.
  • Fair redistricting.  Districts look as if someone sneezed on a map.  Doing it fairly would wipe out the Republicans, but that is going to happen anyway.
  • End to fusion ballots.

These would make elections much more competitive thereby giving gun owners more clout and that is what we sorely need in Albany.

Who is opposing the Con Con?  The bulk of the money is coming from unions and lawyers.  They’re not antigun per se, but are largely responsible for the culture of cronyism and corruption.  If their power is diminished that is a good thing.

Vote Yes on the Con Con.