Gun Politics New York

The Governor does not seem happy that candidates aren’t going along with his SAFE Act:

“Gov. Andrew Cuomo says law enforcement officials don’t get to pick and choose which laws to enforce — and that includes the sheriffs opposed to New York’s new gun restrictions. Talking to reporters Wednesday, Cuomo says law enforcement’s job is to enforce all the laws, which are enacted by the Legislature …”

Really?  I can think of numerous incidents where police/prosecutors have refused to “enforce all the laws.”  For example:

“A lawyer for Albany County District Attorney David Soares told a judge Friday that if voters don’t like the way the three-term Democrat wields his prosecutorial discretion, they can vote him out office.  The argument emerged during a nearly 90-minute hearing pitting Soares against City Court Judge William Carter, who has threatened to hold Soares’ office in contempt of court for refusing to call witnesses against four Occupy Albany protesters whom Soares says he won’t prosecute.  “It’s not something we think the people of Albany want us to do,” Soares’ special counsel, Christopher Horn, told acting state Supreme Court Justice Richard Platkin.  “We have the discretion how to use our resources, and if the citizenry of Albany County decides they don’t like how we’re using our resources, they will vote us out.” …”

Exactly.  If people don’t like what candidates are saying they won’t vote for them.

Besides, according to Cuomo, law enforcement loves his SAFE Act so clearly anyone opposed to it is doomed.

Mayor Bloomberg and Senator Schumer have become issues in Colorado’s recall elections:

Governor Cuomo’s attempt to intimidate county sheriff’s into silence over their opposition to the SAFE Act isn’t working.

In the Republican primary for Saratoga Co. Sheriff:

“A Republican running for Saratoga County sheriff has turned a primary race … into a referendum on the way the department is led, and also on the state’s NY SAFE Act.   Jeff Gildersleeve of Ballston Lake surprised many in the county’s Republican party by challenging Michael Zurlo of Stillwater, the party’s endorsed candidate for sheriff … On the trail, Gildersleeve rips into the state’s recently enacted gun regulations … A former firearms instructor and lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, he’s raised nearly $15,000 — all from July to August — including $9,000 from gun shops in Albany, Troy and Castleton-on-Hudson, according to campaign filings with the state.  He is endorsed by the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association.  Gildersleeve said the SAFE Act has grown into a major issue in the campaign.  “I would not actively enforce it,” he said. …”

In the Democrat primary for Erie Co. Sheriff:

“… [Bert D. Dunn]  offers no apologies for being a “Reagan Democrat” in his youth, and admires him for winning the Cold War.  And Dunn still seems unable to warm up to Cuomo, especially after the governor pushed the strict new gun control law known as the NY SAFE Act.  “Cuomo thought what he was doing would get him out front and boost his presidential hopes,” Dunn said.  “Clearly, this was rushed through.  He created an issue that made it difficult for us in law enforcement.” …”

The fact that it is coming up in primaries shows the issue isn’t going away and the likely damage it has done to Cuomo’s national political aspirations despite (biased) Sienna polling claiming he has regained his popularity.

Unhappiness with the SAFE Act and the role Senate Republicans played in passing it continues to reverberate as the Post Star reports:

“… Rob Arrigo and Elaine Gerber are challenging incumbent state Republican Committee members Todd Kusnierz and Shirley Needham in a rare contested race on Sept. 10 for committee representation of the northeastern Saratoga County municipalities in the 113th Assembly District.  “It’s (state Republican Committee) dysfunctional because nobody is willing to challenge the status quo,” Arrigo said … Arrigo said Saratoga County needs a stronger voice on constitutional issues, such as the SAFE Act, the gun control legislation that was enacted in January.  “Unfortunately the SAFE Act was passed not just with Democrats, but it was passed largely because (state Sen. Majority Leader) Dean Skelos, R-Long Island, allowed a vote on the SAFE Act in the New York State Senate,” he said. “That is unacceptable, and we want to go and hold those elected officials accountable.  And the best place to do that is on the state committee.” …”

Good for them.  More people need to do stuff like this in both parties.

“… Ronald Jackson, regional vice chairman of the state Republican Committee, said it is good to see people interested in serving on the state Committee … But Jackson, who also is the Essex County Republican chairman, said he disagrees with the contention the Republican Committee and Skelos are not conservative enough.  Skelos’ majority hinges on support of independent Democrats who caucus with Republicans, Jackson said.  “So there’s no way he could have stopped it (the SAFE Act), even if he wanted to,” Jackson said …”

Bullshit.  Skelos and establishment Republicans have willingly become Cuomo’s butt monkeys because they are more concerned about preserving their (dwindling) little fiefdoms and being praised by far-left media outlets than in advancing an alternative, freedom-orientated agenda.  All that ass-kissing has gotten them is less Republicans holding public office.  Why in the world is this fool trying to defend a strategy which has been proven to be self-destructive?