Pandering to the Fudds

On: By: admin

Gov. Cuomo is pandering to the Fudds:

“New Yorkers will soon be able to link hunting and fishing licenses to their driver’s license under a plan set to be revealed Wednesday as part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s State of the State address.  Under Cuomo’s plan, those who own hunting and fishing permits, a boating safety certificate or certain state park passes will be able to list them on their driver license, eliminating the need to carry multiple documents … Cuomo has been heavily criticized by gun-rights activists for the Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act … But he’s a known sportsman, having made semi-regular trips to the Adirondacks to fish since taking office in 2011.  Last year, Cuomo lowered fees for annual hunting and fishing permits, tweaking the fee schedule in a budget plan approved by the Legislature.”

Shootings up in Poughkeepsie? Impossible.

On: By: admin

A week ago the Poughkeepsie Journal reported an increase of shootings in the city:

“… The highest number of shootings in at least six years meant long days for City of Poughkeepsie police detectives and tragic news for a handful of victims’ families.  Thirty-four people were shot in 33 incidents in the city this year — five of them fatally — but city police administrators remain hopeful their efforts will curb gun violence and illegal gun ownership in the city in 2014 …”

Clearly this is not possible:

“I’m writing with regard to your Dec. 30 article claiming an increase of shootings in Poughkeepise over the past year. Reporter Roberto Cruz must have made a mistake as the article is simply is not believable.

In January 2013, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the “nation’s toughest gun control law” thereby making it impossible for such events to occur. In addition, Mayor John Tkazyik has been a member of so-called Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) for years and has allowed his name to be used in numerous citizen disarmament campaigns orchestrated by MAIG at the state and federal levels. Tkazyik even accepted a personal campaign contribution from MAIG founder Michael Bloomberg.

In light of these facts, I do not see how your story could possibly be accurate.

I trust the editor will deliver suitable denunciation to Cruz for such “shoddy” reporting.”

Lawsuit appeal

On: By: admin

The court decision will be appealed to the 2nd Circuit.  Here is draft paperwork of the filing.

The state plans to appeal as well.

The Bloomberg Legacy

On: By: admin

We can now look back and refer to the Boss Tweed era as the good old days.

SLAIG starting up again

On: By: admin

State Legislators Against Illegal Guns is starting up again with their annual meeting on January 14.

Click on image to enlarge it.

NRA takes shot and misses

On: By: admin

Daily Caller is running an op-ed by Chris Cox, “Bloomberg leaves office today, protected by firearms“:

“When New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg leaves office today he will enter civilian life protected by firearms.  The same man who has spent much of his career and personal fortune trying to render good, law-abiding men and women defenseless, will now surround himself with a team of armed bodyguards … Bloomberg’s hypocrisy validates what five million NRA members and tens of millions of gun owners already know: The freedom to own and carry firearms is essential to our fundamental right of self-defense …”

On technical merit, this is absolutely correct.  Bloomberg is being hypocritical.  What nobody at NRA seems to understand is:

  1. Bloomberg does not care.
  2. Area politicians don’t care.
  3. Area media don’t care.

Silly attempted PR stunts like this accomplish nothing.  If NRA wants to be taken seriously in NYC, they have to become part of the political process just like every other (mostly leftist) interest groups does: give money to politicians, rate candidates and talk to the press about the issues.

Court ruling

On: By: admin

Much  of the SAFE Act was upheld yesterday in a decision by a Buffalo federal court judge.

As I haven’t read an English interpretation of the decision yet,  the only comment on it is this:

“Right from Day 1, I’ve been telling people that this is the first step. This is going to the Supreme Court.” – New York State Rifle and Pistol Association President Thomas King on a federal judge’s ruling that nearly all parts of New York’s strict gun laws are constitutionally sound, via The New York Times.

Rats leaving sinking ship

On: By: admin

First Long Island RINO who voted for SAFE is jumping ship:

“Sen. Charles Fuschillo Jr., a key member of the Long Island Senate delegation since 1998 and influential Republican lawmaker, will soon resign to take a private-sector job, sources confirmed Tuesday.  The departure of Fuschillo, 53, (R-Merrick) immediately makes his Nassau County district one of the most crucial swing districts for control of the state Senate elections in 2014.  Fuschillo is expected to step down soon, sources said, leaving the possibility of a special election to fill his slot …”

Quoted in Troy Record

On: By: admin

I was interviewed by a NYSNYS News reporter yesterday and it made it into today’s Troy Record:

“…  “People know that registration leads to confiscation,” Jacob Rieper, a spokesman for the NYS Rifle and Pistol Association, referring to the portion of the law that requires anyone possessing a military style assault rifle on January 15 register it by April 15.  Failure to do so is a misdemeanor.  But Rieper and other gun-rights advocates predict that many owners will run the risk, which may not be much of a gamble if their belief holds true that local police, sheriffs and the State Police will not go out of their way to aggressively enforce the law … Gun rights advocates are in federal court in Buffalo to overturn the law.  Rieper said that the judge has indicated he will rule based on court filings rather than oral arguments, and was cognizant of the looming registration deadline …”

Steve not running

On: By: admin

Steve McLaughlin isn’t going to be running for Governor next year:

“… Upstate Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin, who for months considered seeking the GOP nomination for governor, has concluded, “It’s unlikely that I’m going to run.”  McLaughlin, one of Cuomo’s sharpest critics and a leader of the upstate opposition to his anti-gun SAFE Act, cited fund-raising difficulties as the main reason for his decision …”

A shame, but this was never really in the cards.  He’s going to have to settle with having the best Twitter feed in the state legislature.