Gun Politics New York

NRA released their recommendations on school safety this week.

Had they simply said schools should have the option of hiring armed guards/police it there would not have been an issue.  Many schools and colleges do have armed security so it’s not a big deal.  They could have said so-called gun free school zones should be abolished.  Much like drug free school zones they’re feel good nonsense that do nothing to enhance student safety and a rational argument can be made against them.

Unfortunately NRA went another direction with their report:

“… One “model training program” would include a background check for school staffers who want to carry a firearm as well as 40-60 hours in training, former representative Asa Hutchinson, director of the project, said during a press conference at the National Press Club.  While the NRA initially advocated for former police officers to volunteer to guard schools, Hutchinson said the NRA’s research caused the group to back off that approach.  “In terms of volunteers, my impression of school superintendents is they would have great reluctance and so it’s not the best solution,” Hutchinson said. “That’s why we have shifted to school staff, trained school staff, that’s designated by the superintendent of the school board.” …”

NRA is often unfairly accused of being tone deaf by opponents.  This is not one of those times.

This is an astoundingly stupid idea.  How anyone could think they could sell this idea to the general public is beyond me.

More evidence from Fred Dicker that gunnies are getting under Governor Cuomo’s (thin) skin:

“… Utica area Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney found “the paranoia level surprisingly high’’ during a breakfast visit last month to Cuomo at the Governor’s Mansion.  Tenney, part of a group of Assembly Republicans hosted by the governor as budget negotiations were wrapping up, brought along a cap bearing the logo of the Remington Arms Co., the embattled company in her district that is in danger of closing because of Cuomo’s severely restrictive new gun law.  “She had another assemblyman take her picture wearing the cap at the entrance to the Mansion, because she planned show it to the workers at Remington,’’ said a witness to the events.  But once inside the Mansion, Tenney, a lawyer and mother of a 21-year-old Marine, was surrounded by a number of nervous Cuomo aides including Larry Schwartz, the governor’s secretary, who feared she’d defiantly put on the cap during Cuomo’s remarks.  “Larry put his hand on Claudia’s arm and said, ‘Are you going to wear that during the breakfast because if you are, we’re going to have to ask you to leave’,’’ said the witness …”

Must reiterate what I told the Times more than two months ago:

“… “The more people see about this, the angrier they are getting,” said Jacob J. Rieper, the vice president of legislative and political affairs for the Rifle and Pistol Association … “The bottom line is none of these people thought this through, and it’s starting to stink,” Mr. Rieper said …”

Cuomo was all smiles back in January.  Now he’s looking more and more like a cornered rat.