Feeling the backlash

As I stated yesterday, the only reason for Shelly to talk about changing the 7-round magazine rule is if his conference is being hurt by the issue. Apparently it is doing some damage.

Case #1Al Stripe loses his shit when protesters visit his office:

Assemblyman Al Stirpe confirmed he “lost it for a brief second” and directed an “f-bomb” at several pro-gun constituents during a heated moment in his Albany office last week.   It occurred during a late morning meeting Thursday at a time when the capital was flooded with protesters for a rally protesting the state’s new Safe Act, which puts into place the toughest gun control laws in the country …”

Case #2Didi Barrett tries to intimidate her constituent by reporting him to the local police:

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More pangs of regret

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.

Pangs of regret

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.

Bill Nojay’s radio show

Audio from yesterday’s Bill Nojay Show where he talks about lobby day and the rally. Good commentary on getting the permit and Gov. Cuomo’s efforts to undermine everything.

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Legislative Report #4

Legislative Report #4 is now online.

Rally aftermath

Media coverage:

How many showed up:


Largest gun rally ever

Approximately 12,000 people showed up for lobby day today.  Capitol Park was overflowing and people were waiting up to 1.5 hours to get into the Legislative Office Building.  It was the largest political gathering of gun owners anywhere.

Gov. Cuomo made it a point to be as far away from Capitol as he could be.  He was doing something on Long Island today.  However, there is no way he could have missed it with all the local and national media coverage it received.  It’s going to be hard for him and his media allies to keep saying the public overwhelmingly supports him on this issue.

Hooray for Hollywood

Nothing short of total repeal is acceptable.

What Would You Do With $36 Million?

But Cuomo supports gun control

Politico headline, “Andrew Cuomo’s new problems: Bad headlines, Hillary Clinton“:

Andrew Cuomo’s smooth ride as New York’s governor – high approval numbers, flattering newspaper coverage, little by way of fierce opposition – has suddenly hit a rough patch … generally positive media coverage of the governor has turned sour in recent weeks, with stories that reinforce criticism that Cuomo is too controlling and either insufficiently liberal or trying too hard to placate his skeptics on the left … a pair of countervailing narratives about Cuomo have begun to gel.  The first is that because he has a problem on the left – a notion fueled by a handful of progressive commentators – he tossed out an array of liberal wish-list policies in the last few months to counter it.  They included his gun control bill … That, in turn, prompted another reaction: Republicans in the northern, rural part of the state have been vocal in anger over his gun control legislation. (Cuomo initially suggested that “confiscation” was an option.) …”

And yet some media outlets continue to push the lie that his gun control law has overwhelming public support.  It’s starting to stink just like I said it would.