Start of summer means end of session

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The state legislature is scheduled to go into recess tomorrow and NRA-ILA just sent out this alert:

“With the 2017 Legislative Session quickly winding down, your lawmakers need to hear from you now in opposition to S.5447 by Sen. Brad Hoylman …”

Yes, it’s a bad bill and the companion did pass the Assembly, but the Senate version has not moved in months so I don’t think this is a problem right now.

“… A trio of bills which would benefit New York Sportsmen are working their way through the New York Legislature, but need your help to secure passage.  S.2923 by Sen. Patrick Gallivan would remove the requirement that hunters wear backtags … A.619 by Assemblyman David DiPietro is the Assembly version of the bill and is stuck in committee …”

Aside from nobody really caring about this issue, Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (who is prime sponsor, not DiPietro) hasn’t done anything with it since reintroducing it at the start of session to EnCon. It’s dead for the year.

“… S.3156 by Sen. Joseph Griffo would lower the universal hunting age from 14 to 12. This legislation would remove an important barrier to introducing hunting to young sportsmen. A.477 by Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther is the Assembly version of the bill and is currently in committee …”

A good bill that is going nowhere because ILA (and assorted sportsman’s interest groups) do not support Democrats.  That is how Albany functions and how the leadership decides which bills to move.  Until that changes this bill isn’t likely to go anywhere.

“… Finally, S.4769A by Sen. Diane Savino redefines the definition of a “gravity knife” in NY statute …”

Another good bill with problems in the form of Senator Martin Golden who thinks they are the weapon of choice for MS-13 gang-members. Not expecting this to move until Golden stops playing the retired cop routine and quiets down about it.

Another may carry

On: By: admin

Another local official said he may consider carrying for personal protection:

“State Senator Fred Akshar, a former law enforcement officer, says he might consider arming himself in the future … Akshar said he has not carried a gun as senator “to date.” But, he said he’s “licensed to carry a firearm. I am trained appropriately and I have that option available.” When asked about whether he would consider carrying a gun, he said “I certainly would.” He said “it’s certainly within my right to do so.” …”

He’s far from being the only elected official to admit to owning guns, but off the top of my head he is only the second state legislator I can think of who said in public they would carry for self defense, the other being then Senator Eric Adams who is retired NYPD.

It will be interesting to see if this is the start of a trend.

Is seven bullets enough?

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How far the antis have fallen

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A kook-left loser tried to murder a bunch of Republican Congressmen yesterday opening fire on them at a softball practice session outside Washington.

Of course, the antis tried to score cheap political points in order to advance their agenda:

It didn’t work:

“There were prayers and expressions of sympathy for the victims after a gunman opened fire on Republican lawmakers practicing for a charity baseball game, but no signs of a new push in the U.S. Congress to tighten gun-control laws on Wednesday. In a country where there are almost as many guns as people, gun ownership is fiercely defended by firearms industry lobbyists and Republican politicians, who now control the Senate, the House of Representatives and the White House … Despite the day’s carnage, there was no immediate indication that President Donald Trump or his fellow Republicans would shift from their position protecting gun ownership rights. Pro-gun voters lean heavily toward the Republican Party …”

It really didn’t work:

Gun control? Fuck that:

Twenty-five years ago gun control was all the rage. Now the issue is pretty much dead everywhere but a few states like New York and is kept alive mostly through funding by billionaires totally out of touch with average Americans. Hopefully they too will fall apart in a few years.

Democrats still pushing semi-auto prohibition

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Democrats have not given up on the gun control agenda.

In this unrelated article by Ken Lovett, he references a DNC survey/fundraiser letter:

“… The survey, which also served as a fund-raising letter for the DNC, asks about such issues as the economy, environment, raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, getting “weapons of war off our streets,” electoral reform, abortion rights, and gay and transgender rights …”

That’s code for banning semi-autos and anything with detachable magazines.

Saw this coming

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Update from NRA-ILA:

“On Wednesday, June 7, the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee was scheduled to hold a hearing on S.1209A by Sen. Robert Ortt. However, the bill was abruptly removed from the agenda. This important Second Amendment legislation would “remove the prohibition on firearm silencers.” …”

The bill was never seriously on anyone’s agenda.

WRGB Town Hall on SAFE Act

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WRGB hosted a televised town hall meeting on the SAFE Act. They invited the public to send in video questions and they aired mine about halfway through. The participants didn’t answer my question, but I did seem to piss off the mouthpiece from NYAGV.



The Light of Day

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Despite this notice from ILA, the bill to legalize silencers S-1290A is not going to see it.

The legislature is scheduled to go into recess in two weeks.  This is the time of year where Republicans try to justify their existence to gun owners by asking committees to consider some of their bills.  Even if Senate EnCon moves the bill to Rules, I do not believe there is sufficient support in the upper chamber for it to pass, let alone move it through the Assembly and have Governor Cuomo sign it.

The Republicans do not have the ability to make political deals on pro-gun legislation (or much of anything else) anymore even if they wanted to, which they don’t.  This is political theater, nothing more.

Sign for Steve

On: By: admin

Assemblyman Steve McLaughin is collecting Republican signatures to run for Rensselaer County Executive this fall. Because the party has endorsed Chris Meyer, Steve needs these for a primary ballot in September.

Petitions being circulated for him and Meyer. Enrolled Republicans can sign only one petition so make sure it has Steve’s name on it.  If you want to sign the petition or otherwise help with the campaign send them an e-mail.