#NY22 campaign is going to be ugly

On: By: admin

If this article in the Press & Sun-Bulletin is any indication, next year’s race for the 22nd Congressional District is going to be very ugly:

“… Rep. Claudia Tenney is already launching a character attack against her new opponent, Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi, by making an issue of his father’s “notorious” background as a lawyer who decades ago represented defendants with ties to organized crime …”

Savage!

“… While Democrats are pushing his moderate record and “A” rating from the National Rifle Association, she called him a liberal progressive who is part of “the machine in Albany.” …”

I’d say both are true.

If it is this nasty now, what is this race going to look like six months down the road?

Republican challenger for Collins

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A slew of potential Democrats have announced their intentions to challenge upstate Republican Congressmen.

In CD-27, Rep. Chris Collins has a Republican challenger Frank C. Smierciak II.

According to The Daily News he’s big on guns:

“… Well I think, first off, the (NY SAFE Act) needs to be repealed completely. Same with the pistol permitting process. I believe strongly in constitutional carry nationwide, and that’s because it’s your right to own whatever firearm you want, to have one for protection — personal protection, for home defense, whatever you want to have it for …”

To be fair, Collins does co-sponsor H.R.38 which supports both licenses to carry and constitutional carry.

“… Well, Collins hasn’t done all that much regarding the Second Amendment. He has voiced his support saying that the SAFE Act should be repealed but he hasn’t really done much for that. In terms of pistol permitting, he has gotten behind the concealed carry reciprocity bill … The flaw with the concealed reciprocity bill is it has this little caveat in it that says states must recognize permits from other states as long as they allow their own residents to carry. Well that’s pretty easily opening the door for states like New York or California to just outright deny people the right to carry …”

Collins cannot do anything about the SAFE Act because it is a state law.

Smierciak concerns about the reciprocity bill are unfounded.  New York will never outlaw concealed carry because politicians use may-issue to shake down people for money and favors.

It remains to be seen whether or not Smierciak can put together the resources to seriously challenge Collins.

Ask @NYGovCuomo to comment

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Mainstream media is now reporting that the Bronx hospital shooter used a SAFE-compliant rifle.

I cannot find my mention of this by Governor Cuomo nor anybody from the LCA asking his office for a comment.

Kennedy to retire next year?

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SCOTUS not taking Peruta was a disappointment.

However, that disappointment may be short-lived because according to the Washington Post:

“… it is unlikely that Kennedy will remain on the court for the full four years of the Trump presidency. While he long ago hired his law clerks for the coming term, he has not done so for the following term (beginning Oct. 2018), and has let applicants for those positions know he is considering retirement … It’s not terribly surprising that Kennedy would consider retirement … but this looks like a pretty good indicator that it will come at some point in President Trump’s first term …”

It’s been only 9 years since Heller and 7 since McDonald.  Considering NRA started working on changing judicial opinion on gun rights back in the 70s, it really has not been that long since the Court took up a major gun issue.  I would rather wait another 5 years for a good decision from a new court then get a half-assed one written by Kennedy on his way out the door.

SAFE didn’t work

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A disgruntled former employee shot and killed one person and wounded six more at a Bronx hospital yesterday.

Local Moms issued this statement:

“… While we do not yet know much about the man who committed this crime or how he got his gun, it’s clear that we must do more to keep guns out of the hands of people with dangerous intentions …”

Media reports indicate a AR-15 was used, which may have been modified to be SAFE Act compliant.

Does this mean that MDA is admitting Governor Cuomo’s signature law does not work as advertised? Cuomo himself has so far been silent about it as has Mayor de Blasio.

Brindisi v. Tenney

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Assemblyman Anthony Brindisi announced his intention to run against Congresswoman Claudia Tenney next year in CD-22.

This is going to be one of the more interesting races in 2018.  The district has traditionally been held by moderate to RINO Republicans while Tenney is much more conservative.  Brindisi is a moderate Democrat who might fit the district demographics better than Tenney.

On guns:

“… Brindisi has also shown an independent streak as a Democratic moderate, at times criticizing Gov. Andrew Cuomo. But some of his credentials will likely appeal to conservatives, including his top “A” rating from the National Rifle Association …”

Brindisi has been supportive of gun rights while in the Assembly and deserves the grade.

Tenney, however, has been vocal in her 2A support and for Remington.  From a pure gun rights standpoint, she is the stronger candidate.

Bloomberg spreading cash around

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Apparently the $50 million Bloomberg spent creating gun control astroturf was only the beginning.

According to the New York Times, “Bloomberg’s Next Anti-Washington Move: $200 Million Program for Mayors“:

“Michael R. Bloomberg will throw his financial might into helping beleaguered American mayors, creating a $200 million philanthropic program aimed at backing inventive policies at the city level and giving mayors a stronger hand in national politics … In an interview, Mr. Bloomberg said his city-focused initiative would serve in part as an extension of his advocacy for national policies that address climate change, gun violence, public health and immigration … As a political donor, he has made gun control his central cause, with mixed electoral success …”

His gun control funding didn’t produce much results, but through sheer volume, there’s a good chance he will get something in return for this.

Peruta action/reaction

On: By: admin

SCOTUS has declined to hear the right to carry case Peruta v. California.

Most cases appealed to the court are turned down, so while it’s a disappointment they did not take this one, it does not mean the issue is dead.  They could accept a different case sometime down the road.

Hopefully this will motivate Congress to take up pro-gun bills especially reciprocity.  That could force states like California and New York to make positive legislative changes.

Reciprocity bill reaches 200 co-sponsors in House

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H.R.38 hit 200 co-sponsors yesterday with Colorado Rep. Mike Coffman signing on.

Companion S.446 still at 37.

Total fail

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I under estimated just how far the gun control movement has fallen since Congressman Steve Scalise was shot last week.

Not only have the antigunners failed to exploit this for political gain, the exact opposite has happened with pro-gun bills picking up new support.  The bill to deregulate silencers H.R.367 picked up four more co-sponsors including one Democrat while the bill to remove the “sporting purposes” clause H.R.2620 added three more Republican co-sponsors.