A bunch of hot air

On: By: admin

El Presidente issued his executive orders.  As expected it’s mostly hot air:

… Require gun dealers, whether they sell in a store, at gun shows or over the internet, to conduct background checks on those wanting to purchase a firearm …

This is already law.

… The order will require people purchasing [NFA] weapons through trusts or other legal entities to undergo a background check …

Don’t know much about the NFA, but pretty sure this is already done.

… Attorney General Loretta Lynch has written a letter to states urging them to provide complete information, such as criminal history, to the federal database that’s used for background checks …

Why not send them a letter urging everyone to be awesome?

… To speed up and modernize NICS, the order directs the FBI to hire more than 230 staffers – a move that would double staff size – and complete technical updates to the database …

All this will likely do is speed up gun purchases which are way up under his administration.

… Dealers are required to report lost or stolen weapons from their inventory but the laws related to guns that go missing during transit aren’t as clear. Under the new order, the licensee shipping the gun will be responsible for reporting it missing or stolen …

I don’t think this does much of anything.

… The White House is proposing to spend $500 million for increased mental healthcare services. Other provisions include reporting of Social Security information to the background check system, a move designed to keep those with mental health issues or who receive disability payments due to mental impairment from purchasing firearms …

NRA covered this several months back. I suspect either legislative or legal action will kill this.

… The president is issuing a memorandum to … increase research into gun safety technology. The memo also directs the agencies to promote the use and acquisition of new firearm technology …

Isn’t much this already being done for government purchases when they replace/upgrade inventory?  Any smart gun nonsense is not going to be funded by Congress.

… The White House said the president’s 2017 budget will include funding for 200 new Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm agents to enforce gun laws. Another $4 million will go towards enhancements to the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network, which tracks evidence that can be used to link gun-related crimes …

This looks like a whole lot of nothing.

The antis are not happy about this.  See this op-ed at the Huffington Post, “Obama’s Executive Actions On Gun Control May Not Do Much. But He’s Doing More Than Congress.“

Red meat

On: By: admin

President Obama announced awhile back his intention to take executive action on gun control.  We still don’t know what exactly his plans are, but given it won’t be coming through Congress I suspect it will be mostly symbolism and questionably legal decrees.

The Post agrees:

“… On gun control, word is that an executive order to expand background checks on certain gun sales will come this week.  Look: This issue’s been before Congress for at least two years — and gone nowhere. Worse, Obama’s claim that he has the power to act here is legally … imaginative.  So the action is nothing more than red meat for the culture warriors on both sides — plus provocation of the legislative branch …”

This plus I think he’s hoping Bloomberg will open his wallet for Democrats who promote the issue.

Dick’s prediction

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Dick Nelson is the outdoors writer for Hudson-Catskill newspapers.  He is far and away the best outdoor writer in the state.  In his latest column he predicts that the Republicans will lose Dean Skelos’ old Senate seat in the special election, tentatively set for April 19.

No candidates come forth as of yet, but the Nassau GOP has some weapons-grade stupid on their side which lend credence to Dick’s prediction.

Examples:

  1. Joseph Mondello levels sharp criticism at GOP officials embroiled in corruption scandals:

    “Nassau Republican Chairman Joseph Mondello on Wednesday leveled extraordinary criticism at GOP officials who are embroiled in public corruption scandals, saying he was “angry as hell,” and would do everything he can to “get them out of the party” if they are convicted …”

    Dude, they’re part of the county committee which you are chairman of.

  2. New York’s next big corruption scandal:

    “There was a stunning revelation in the corruption trial that convicted Dean Skelos … Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano, planned to “assert Fifth Amendment privilege” if called to testify about the AbTech contract … and the feds were “not prepared to immunize” him …”

    This doesn’t look good.

  3. Senate GOP blasts Kaminsky’s statement on Dean Skelos’ ‘gall’ to collect his pension:

    “… “Self-professed reformer Todd Kaminsky is a fraud and a phony,” Senate GOP spokesman Scott Reif said in an emailed statement Wednesday morning. “Either he doesn’t understand the legislative process or he is ok spinning lies to further his own political ambitions. It was Kaminsky and the New York City Democrats who failed to pass an agreed-upon measure this year to prohibit public officials convicted of felonies from receiving their pensions. While the Senate acted decisively, Kaminsky and his Assembly Democrats buried their heads in the sand. Todd Kaminsky should be ashamed of himself.” …”

    Scott Reif should shut-up. Nobody believes this.

  4. Joseph Mondello, son of Nassau GOP chairman, accused in Virginia of taking hostage:

    “Joseph Nestor Mondello, the son of Nassau Republican Party chairman Joseph Mondello, was arrested Tuesday in Arlington County, Virginia, for allegedly holding hostage, and threatening to kill, a technician who was repairing his computer …”

    Bonus: Little Joe looks like Sloth from The Goonies.

Pataki drops out

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CNBC headline, “George Pataki drops out of race to be 2016 Republican presidential candidate.”

Like he was ever really running.

He was just doing the booze and schmooze routine with The Establishment to keep his speakers fees up.

Why the establishment fears Cruz

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Good article at the Conservative Review, “Why the Establishment Fears Cruz More Than Trump.”

This sums it up:

“…Trump is a dealmaker running a campaign as a disrupter to the status quo. Cruz is a proven disrupter to the status quo. That is a very big difference indeed. The political industrial complex believes deep down that they can negotiate with the author of The Art of the Deal; they know they will lose the levers of power with Ted Cruz.  You can see it in the voracity and frequency of their attacks. The establishment consultants and chattering class know they have the most to lose with a Cruz presidency.  What do they lose with a Cruz presidency? The very levers of power by which they enrich themselves: the Republican Party apparatus …”

New federal AWB

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A new federal gun ban bill has been introduced in Congress.  Here is a link to the bill and list of local sponsors.  No surprises, although Brian Higgins is a bit of a disappointment.

NYPD disproves statement about SAFE Act

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As a sort of follow-up to yesterday’s post citing a Cuomo-mouthpiece’s statement that SAFE is “working”, I wrote up a press release calling BS on it.

Waiting for an answer

On: By: admin

Staten Island Assemblyman Joe Borelli was elected last month to the NYC City Council. On the way out he talked with The Advance:

“… His first vote was to oppose the SAFE Act, a gun regulation law that passed in the middle of the night under a “message of necessity” that bypassed usual procedure giving lawmakers three days to review bills … Borelli had sharp criticism of the governor, who worked with Democrats to push the SAFE Act through quickly.  “I think the governor is wrong on a lot of things that he does policy-wise,” Borelli said. The way the SAFE Act was passed, “It’s just wrong,” Borelli said. “It shows the way he does business, it’s just constantly a fight between personalities, it’s totally egotistical, it’s totally self-centered.”  Cuomo spokeswoman Dani Lever said, “The SAFE Act is making New York safer and saving lives.”  Borelli replied, “OK … how?” …”

Not expecting an answer given that the City’s murder rate is up from last year.

Can Gibson beat Cuomo?

On: By: admin

It is quite early for this, but the Times Union has an article on Rep. Chris Gibson running for Governor in 2018.

Some excerpts:

“… Gibson assumes Cuomo will seek a third term, and he concedes the governor would be difficult to beat in a state where Democrats have a 2-to1 enrollment advantage …”

I don’t agree with this on several points.

First, I am not sure he is interested in another term.  There was a finality in his tone after his re-election last year.  Second, Democrats hate Cuomo.  He was re-elected because of a deal made with with Senate Republicans to undermine Rob Astorino.  Third, and this is the big one, I am not convinced Cuomo will be able to finish out his current term due to criminal probes by Preet Bharara.

“… Gibson would have obvious vulnerabilities, including little name recognition downstate … He’s also an opponent of the SAFE Act and gun control generally … Gibson vowed to take his views on guns directly at Cuomo, arguing that additional state restrictions will do nothing to make New Yorkers more safe.  “I’m willing to debate this everywhere,” Gibson said. “The knee-jerk reaction for gun control has never delivered, and it won’t deliver.”  That may play well upstate. But downstate? …”

As has been proven time and again, gun control proponents do not represent a voting constituency.  They tried hitting Astorino with it and he ignored them.

“… Cuomo would also have a huge financial advantage over a Republican challenger …”

This is true.  It remains to be seen if Chris has access to sufficient monies to run a statewide campaign.

Recognition from Assemblyman Lavine

On: By: admin

Always nice to be recognized by a member of the legislature:

“Long Island residents have been up in arms since the attempted robbery and shooting that occurred at Roosevelt Field Mall on Tuesday afternoon. Assemblyman Charles Lavine issued a letter to County Executive Ed Mangano on his concerns following this incident … Dear County Executive Mangano … Notwithstanding the support you receive from the National Rifle Association, its Political Voting Fund, its Institute for Legislative Action and the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, its official state affiliate, the Roosevelt Field shooting represents yet another instance of our national crisis in the proliferation of firearms …”

I appreciate the mention Charlie.

It’s real funny when you talk about “gun violence” given your past history of defending killers:

“… The other three men convicted of Byrne’s murder, Philip Copeland, Todd Scott and Scott Cobb, already have been sentenced to the maximum term. Both Scott and Cobb, in videotaped confessions, named McClary as the one who shot Byrne at point-blank range. Charles Lavine, McClary’s court-appointed attorney, argued that the judge should go easier on his client than the others, because McClary had no criminal record. The pre-sentencing report, Lavine said, noted that McClary’s interests were “babysitting and basketball.” …”

…terrorists:

“UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Appellee, v. OMAR AHMAD ALI ABDEL RAHMAN, IBRAHIM A. EL-GABROWNY, EL SAYYID NOSAIR, TARIG ELHASSAN, HAMPTON-EL, AMIR ABDELGANI, FADIL ABDELGANI, VICTOR ALVAREZ, MOHAMMED SALEH and FARES KHALLAFALLA, Defendants-Appellants … COUNSEL: … Lynne Stewart … for appellant Rahman … Charles D. Levine, Forest Hills, N.Y., for appellant F. Abdelgani …”

… and those who aid and abet terrorists:

“… Radical Lawyer Lynne Stewart must serve a decade in prison – a sentence that could keep her behind bars until she turns 80. Flanked Thursday by family and supporters, Stewart, 70, quietly wiped away tears as U.S. District Judge John Koeltl handed down his decision to give her 10 years and a month for helping a blind extremist cleric relay messages to terror cohorts in Egypt …”