Gun Politics New York

Did Senator Tim Kennedy trade his antigun vote for promised economic support?

“… Kennedy said that he would never support an anti-gun bill, but, since then, he has done just that.  After 30 minutes of discussion, Kennedy’s assistant admitted, “WNY is in need of economic assistance.  That assistance needs to come from Albany and, sometimes, it is not possible to support all of the interests of all the constituents.”  Does that mean that Second Amendment rights have been traded for local economic support? …”

Good question.

More attacks upon the SAFE Act, legislatively and administratively.

First, the legislative attack, “Budget Resolution Takes Aim At New York’s SAFE Act“:

“Senate Republicans and their governing partners in the Independent Democratic Conference appear to be targeting New York’s new gun control measure with their one-house budget resolution … Specifically, the resolution would deny Gov. Cuomo’s proposal to provide $3.2 million in funding to the state police “for personal service and contractual services related to the implementation of the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act (NY SAFE).”  The resolution also seeks to strip $32.7 million in capital funding related to the development of a pistol permit database by the State University of New York …”

The Left often uses this strategy to attack programs it doesn’t like.  I’m not optimistic it will work here as I don’t think the Republicans have the balls to stand firm on the issue.

Second, the administrative attack, “VA won’t abide by reporting provisions of SAFE“:

“The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said it will not comply with New York State’s new law requiring mental health providers to report potentially dangerous individuals to state authorities … Mark Ballesteros, spokesperson for the Department of Veterans Affairs, said that the U.S. Constitution forces his agency to follow federal law, not New York’s new rules.  “Federal laws safeguarding the confidentiality of veterans’ treatment records do not authorize VA mental-health professionals to comply with this NY State law,” he said in an emailed statement …”

This is what happens when the authors of the bill (Cuomo’s office) don’t bother to do due diligence on the issue.  There is a reason for the requirement that bills “age” before they can be voted on, a requirement Cuomo got around by (mis)using a “message of necessity.”

The media is trying to spin Gov. Cuomo’s plunge in the polls:

“Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s job approval has fallen to 54 percent – the lowest point since he took office in 2011 – but broad support for his agenda remains among New Yorkers, a Siena College poll released this morning found … If anything, the poll affirms that Cuomo spent considerable political capital on forcing the gun control law through the Legislature …”

How could his gun control agenda have “broad support” if his approval rating dropped 20 points since December?

“… Support remains for the SAFE Act, which was passed in January and updated the state’s assault weapons ban and limited the number of rounds in a magazine from 10 to seven.  The law has become a flashpoint for gun-rights advocates across the country … The measure has been the subject of several pro-gun rights rallies at the Capitol and a handful of Republican lawmakers in the Senate are pushing for “repeal and replacement” of the law’s key provisions.  Also, a steady stream of local governments – all of them upstate – have passed resolutions calling for Albany to ditch, or at least rework, the new gun law.  Despite all this upheaval, the SAFE Act remains popular with New Yorkers, according to Siena’s numbers.  Sixty-one percent of those surveyed say they back the law, down from 65 percent last month.  Repeal of the law is opposed by a margin of 56 percent to 40 percent …”

Just about every county from Rockland north has either passed a resolution condemning SAFE or has one pending so where are they getting these numbers from?  If you look at the two gun questions Siena asked neither of them accurately describes what the law actually does:

Q.17  New York’s Governor and Legislature recently enacted the toughest gun control law in the country. Do you support or oppose the state’s new gun law?

Q.18  Some have said that the state’s new gun law was passed in haste, without enough time for careful review or to gage whether or not there was public support for the new law.  They point to the fact that the Governor and Legislature have already admitted that corrections to the new law need to be enacted.  Supporters say the law was long overdue and was needed.  Which of the following two statements comes closest to your opinion: The law was rushed through without adequately considering public opinion and the effect the law would have, OR the law was needed and while passed quickly was the right thing to do.

This poll is garbage and the media is doing their best to pooh-pooh the issue as if it doesn’t matter.

You know things are really starting to stink when Shelly speaks:

“… Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, indicated he may be open to changing a major piece of the state’s gun-control law that limits the number of bullets in a magazine to seven.  Silver suggested today that because manufacturers do not make magazines with seven bullets, lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo may need to revisit the restriction … “From a practical matter, we’re discussing it.  I’m just saying I’m open to it,” Silver continued.  “Everything in this state will better and does move better when people are open to compromise.” …”

The only reason he’d say this is if he feels the backlash is starting to hurt Democrats in his conference.

Some Republicans are beginning to think that voting for the SAFE Act was a bad political move.

First up, Senator Phil Boyle releases this statement:

“… “The so-called SAFE act was a mistake. Its passage lacked transparency and public input and its wording was ill-conceived and of questionable legality,” said Senator Phil Boyle.  “Lawmakers like myself might have caught these mistakes if we were given more than two hours to read the bill.  A good leader admits a mistake and works to rectify it.  That is what I am doing.” …”

Translation: my constituents are pissed and I’m trying to cover my ass with this bullshit statement.

Next, freshman Assemblyman Bill Nojay tells Fred Dicker what he thinks of Dean Skelos:

“… In a rare break with party unity, Nojay described Skelos to The Post as “a failed leader” and declared, “He has to go.”  “Dean Skelos has repeatedly failed to defend Republican values and assist his fellow Republicans running for office, whether it’s his supporting a $2 billion tax hike, how he handled gay marriage, and now the gun issue,” Nojay said …”

Now Dean Skelos comes out of hiding to issue a statement:

“Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos said today that he expects significant changes to the gun-control law passed in January, specifically targeting the provision that lowers the number of bullets in a magazine from 10 to seven.  Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo has indicated that the law passed Jan. 15 might face just some minor changes. Skelos, the Republican from Nassau County, said he would hope there would be more substantial changes.  “I think they are going to be more than technical,” Skelos told reporters of the changes. “I think we’re going to look at the size of the clips, a number of other issues – protections within your home.” …”

Yeah right.  He knows that neither Shelly nor Andy are likely to go along with that.  Like Boyle he’s looking for some political cover.