Reactions to H.R.3576

On: By: admin

Rep. Chris Collins’ new bill H.R.3576 is getting some attention. I have seen it mentioned in newspapers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Hawaii.

Governor Cuomo’s reaction:

“New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo threatened to file a lawsuit Tuesday if Congress passes pro-Second Amendment legislation that would roll back the state’s major 2013 gun control law known as the SAFE Act. “If they try to overrule the State of New York we will sue because this state has rights too,” Cuomo told reporters. “And especially with this federal government, it is very important that states represent their rights and assert their rights and I will assert my rights to the fullest extent of the law.” …”

Collins’ response:

Congress has gone into recess so we’ll have to wait and see how much support it receives from the New York delegation.

Two more names

On: By: admin

Two more names have come up as possible challengers for Governor Cuomo next year.

First is Democrat Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner:

“… [Stephanie Miner], who is term-limited out of her current office at the end of the year, said she’s been approached by different people about running for governor, Congress or state Senate. “I’m taking everybody’s phone calls,” she said. The inquiries to run against Cuomo as a progressive alternative have come from a mix of the “professional left, some advocates, consultants and just the public in general,” Miner said …”

I believe she would be a stronger challenger to Cuomo than Terry Gipson would be.

Next is Republican Senator John DeFrancisco:

“… [Senator John DeFrancisco], said in an interview Friday that he began traveling around the state to attend Republican events and float his name as a potential gubernatorial candidate … “I think it’s just prudent to go around and see what level of support there is,” he said. “And if there is, then I’ll seriously consider it.” …”

His level of supports peaks at about the same as a generic Anybody But Cuomo candidate.

“… DeFrancisco said he was “instrumental” in helping [George] Pataki in central New York …”

I would not bring this up in an interview.

“… “Quite frankly, the rallying cry was not a great movement for George Pataki but the rallying cry was ‘Anybody but Cuomo,'” DeFrancisco recalled. “I just think that’s the same situation we’re in now …””

That’s the way he’s selling himself?  That is just as bad as the Democrat’s, “I mean, have you seen the other guys?“

People want to vote for someone, not just against an incumbent.  Does DeFrancisco seriously believe this is going to motivate people to get behind him?

Rep. Collins introduces H.R.3576

On: By: admin

Congressman Chris Collins has introduced a bill to undo much of the SAFE Act:

“… “This legislation would protect the Second Amendment rights of New Yorkers that were unjustly taken away by Andrew Cuomo,” said Collins. “I am a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment and have fought against all efforts to condemn these rights. I stand with the law-abiding citizens of this state that have been outraged by the SAFE Act and voice my commitment to roll back these regulations.” …”

The Governor is not amused:

“… “Chris Collins is turning his back on New Yorkers and putting millions of people at profound risk,” Cuomo said. “By fighting to roll back vital legislation that protects the people of the Empire State, Collins is demonstrating once again that he is beholden to no one but the gun lobby and entrenched special interests.” …”

The bill H.R.3576 would prohibit states and municipalities from regulating rifles and shotguns beyond what is in federal law.  It has no co-sponsors at this time.  It would affect all states, not just New York.  It reminds me a bit of an old bill Assembly bill A-6698 from 2003 that I really liked that would have prohibited any sort of licensing, registration or taxation of firearms in New York.  It predictably went nowhere.

Collins and Cuomo hate each other so this is clearly aimed at pissing Andrew off even though I do not believe it will be going anywhere in the House.

Gipson considering challenging Cuomo

On: By: admin

Some rumormongering:

“After losing re-election in 2014 and then a rematch last year, former Sen. Terry Gipson appears to have a new target: Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The former Democratic senator from the Hudson Valley recently wrote to progressive groups in New York saying he is considering a primary against the governor in 2018, when Cuomo plans to seek a third term. “I’m a former NY State Senator (D) and believe that New York deserves a real Democratic governor that will lead our party and move true Democratic policy forward,” Gipson wrote in an email July 19 to the group, NY Progressive Action Network …”

It is no secret that a lot of Democrats are unhappy with Cuomo and would like to see him primaried.  However, no big name candidates such as Eric Schneiderman have stepped up to the plate.  If Gipson did make a run he would likely receive a sizeable amount of money from far-left groups, but unlike Zephyr Teachout, Gipson isn’t well known outside Dutchess County and his credentials largely consist of him bitching about Cuomo on Twitter.  It would take much more than that to pose a serious threat to the Governor’s re-election plans.

12%

On: By: admin

With an overwhelming Democrat enrollment advantage, the chances of a Republican knocking Bill de Blasio out were going to be slim at best.

Early on, I thought Paul Massey might at least make a respectable showing based upon his ability to raise a lot of money.  He did raise a lot and then promptly blew it, causing him to drop out of the race last month.

The GOP establishment got behind Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, who decided to alienate everybody by supporting both the SAFE Act and stop-and-frisk.

The result of this?

She currently polls just under 12%.

 

County Clerks Rip Pistol Re-certification Deadline

On: By: admin

Madison Co. sheriff candidates

On: By: admin

The Observer-Dispatch has an article on the two candidates running for Madison County Sheriff this fall.

Each was asked about the SAFE Act and each gave a similar non-answer answer about streamlining the pistol license application process.

This is true

On: By: admin

Some excerpts from a letter to the Buffalo News:

“Every time I go by a “Repeal the SAFE Act” sign I still have to chuckle … Now there is even a proposal to repeal the SAFE Act upstate. Some Western New York legislators spend more time talking about repeal on the campaign trail than they do in the Legislature … Even Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan candidly acknowledged that repeal is done. “I think on a very practical level most people don’t believe the SAFE Act is going to be repealed.” …”

The author speaks the truth, especially the part about legislators talking about repeal, but doing nothing about it in the legislature.

The bills A-6140/S-679C were introduced and no action was taken on either of them.  Why didn’t Republican legislators attempt to link passage of this proposal with state budget negotiations?  If the Senate sponsor’s were serious why didn’t they make a Motion for Committee Consideration?  If the Assembly sponsor’s were serious why didn’t they make a Motion to Discharge?

The reality is that even if the Republican’s were serious there’s just not enough of them and they do not have the political clout to move agenda items like this anymore.  The New York party is not functioning and in the not too distant future they will become a permanent minority party in the state.

New Yorkers for Gun Safety closes down

On: By: admin

The election committee New Yorkers for Gun Safety appears to be kaput. What little money remained in the PAC was transferred to the State Democratic Committee.

It was never a real grassroots organization.  It was created by Governor Cuomo under the NYSDC to push the SAFE Act.  They kept the account open for some reason since ’13 and now it has a $0.00 balance.

It can be looked at as both a success and failure.  It was successful in pushing SAFE, but it was a failure in generating any sort of residuals.  Gun control is less popular now than 5 years ago and Cuomo’s standing as a national leader on the issue only hurt him.

Antigun advocates are unlikely to learn anything from this.

Brown leading in Buffalo

On: By: admin

The Buffalo News reports that incumbent Buffalo Mayor Byron brown is seriously ahead in fundraising over his Democrat rivals:

“Mayor Byron W. Brown has more than a half million dollars in his campaign chest, far ahead of his opponents in the Democratic primary for City Hall’s top job. The three-term incumbent in the last six months raised almost $440,000, four times more than Mark J.F. Schroeder, the city comptroller, raised and 70 times as much as Betty Jean Grant, an Erie County legislator …”

Brown’s record on guns has been mixed: poor while in the Senate, but he notably did not come out in support of the SAFE Act.

Schroeder consistently supported gun rights while in the Assembly.

Grant has not been supportive of gun rights while in the county legislature.

The race will likely be decided during the Democrat primary where turnout will be low.  Knowing this, for the primary, gun owners choices should be:

  1. Schroeder
  2. Brown
  3. Grant