Congressman Tom Reed has added his name as co-sponsor to H.R. 38 bringing the total to seven from New York.
Manhattan D.A. Cyrus Vance is not happy about the bill.
Astornio holds the line
Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino continued to defend gun shows at a town hall meeting in White Plains yesterday:
“… Astorino defended vetoing county legislation that would have banned gun shows on county property, like one recently held at the County Center in White Plains. He said the gun show’s attendees were unfairly stigmatized …”
Good for him.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Republicans could learn a lot from Astorino (and Lee Zeldin) on how to handle gun issues in the NYC suburbs. They need to stop paying attention to their crap internal polling and see how the public acts and votes on the issue.
S. 446 introduced
Senator John Cornyn introduced S. 446 yesterday as a companion to Congressman Richard Hudson’s Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, H.R. 38.
The Daily Caller reports that Cornyn is looking for Democrats to co-sponsor his bill, but I would not hold out much hope for that. Hudson’s bill currently has 160 sponsors with only two Democrats. The Party seems determined to obstruct any and all of the GOP agenda regardless of how popular it is. Mitch McConnell should schedule a vote on the bill A.S.A.P. and squash any lame attempts to filibuster it without actually having to stand on the floor and speak in opposition. Now would be a good time to do it too as Chuck Schumer seems to have lost his mojo after The Donald called him “head clown.” He’s not acting nearly as bad as I thought he would be.
New Yorkers take over DNC
Buffalo native Tom Perez has been elected DNC Chairman.
With Queens Congresswoman Grace Meng and Bronx Assemblyman Michael Blake being elected DNC Vice Chairs and having Charles Schumer as Senate Minority Leader, it is safe to say that New York is the new face of the Democrat Party.
That’s fucking hilarious!
While I don’t believe Perez has the same ties to the local political machine the others do, his election appears to have upset the hard Left who see him as being part of the (losing) Clinton/Obama establishment. This means the image the Democrats want to put forward is that of stale, big city politicos who are out of touch with their base and with middle America.
Outstanding.
Hopefully this will keep them in disarray and we can get the reciprocity bill through Congress.
Please be true
Some rumormongering from Ted Cruz:
“Sen. Ted Cruz predicted Thursday that there will be another vacancy on the Supreme Court later this year but provided no explanation for why he believes that is likely to happen. Cruz (R-Tex.) also appeared to suggest that a departure of one of justices from the liberal wing of the court would trigger the opening …”
Considering half the Court looks like death warmed-over this would not be a surprise.
If true, it would be a huge opportunity for gun rights.
Maryland AWB upheld
The 4th Circuit Court has upheld Maryland’s “assault weapons” ban.
I’m not surprised given that the 2nd Circuit Court upheld the SAFE Act back in 2015. What we really need is for a good, clear decision from SCOTUS on this. I do not know if the Maryland decision will be appealed or even if it is the best case to be appealed.
Buffalo mayoral race
Byron Brown has announced his intention to run for another term as Mayor of Buffalo.
Although Brown’s record in the State Senate was poor, he has largely avoided gun issues as Mayor except for some focus on “illegal” guns. Examples include:
- “Mayor Byron W. Brown’s 7th Gun BuyBack Program“
- “Buffalo marks Gun Violence Awareness Month with tip campaign“
- “Violence, homicides down in Buffalo“
Notably, Brown did not come out in support of the SAFE Act and that may have cost him the Lt. Governor’s spot.
Brown faces a likely primary challenge from Comptroller Mark Schroeder. Schroeder has a positive record of supporting 2A during his time in the State Assembly.
Candidates for Nassau Co. Exec.
With incumbent Ed Mangano having problems, Democrats are hoping to pick-up the Nassau County Executive’s seat this fall.
So far, three names have surfaced:
- Nassau Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs is supporting Legislator Laura Curran (D-Baldwin). She supports a New Yorkers Against Gun Violence mandatory firearms storage proposal for the county.
- Assemblyman Charles Lavine has the backing of the Assembly Democrat Leadership. Lavine has a long record of supporting antigun legislation in Albany.
- County Comptroller George Maragos. Does not have a record on the issue that I’m aware of.
Assuming Mangano does not run for another term, possible Republican candidates include:
- Former State Senator Jack Martins. Voted for the SAFE Act and ran for Congress last year as the gun control candidate.
- Hempstead Town Councilman Bruce Blakeman. A perpetual candidate who has run several times for higher office and lost each time.
- Hempstead Tax Receiver Donald Clavi. I have nothing on him.
A largely uninspiring bunch of people.
Congress repeals Obama gun rule
Congress has voted to repeal Obama’s Social Security gun rule.
The House passed their bill a couple weeks ago and the Senate followed suit yesterday.
Last minute whining by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance was ignored.
NYC mayoral candidates
Bill de Blasio is up for re-election this year.
AMNewYork has a listing of currently declared candidates. de Blasio will almost certainly be in a Democrat primary against multiple opponents. I expect there will be a GOP primary as well.
The only candidate right now that I find interesting is Republican businessman Paul Massey. I don’t know what his position on 2A is and, from a purely practical standpoint, it doesn’t matter. With a huge Democrat enrollment advantage any Republican running would need access to an equally huge source of money. Massey does seem to be making some inroads in that area. See, “Better call Paul: Massey adding muscle to mayoral campaign” and “Massey Beats Out Mayor With $1.6M in Campaign Funds Raised in 6 Months, Spends Even Bigger.“