Gun Politics New York

I’m getting the impression that many state legislators, and even Gov. Cuomo, are surprised by the public reaction to the SAFE Act.  Worse (for them) the notion that the overwhelming majority of gun owners will simply ignore the law is starting to seep into the media’s consciousness.

Fred Dicker writes:

“… Gun-range owners and gun-rights advocates are encouraging hundreds of thousands of owners to defy the law, saying it’d be the largest act of civil disobedience in state history … State officials will be nervously watching the registration figures to see how many gun owners comply, sources said. “I believe you will have people stepping forward, saying, ‘Here I am. See? I have what you call an assault rifle.  Now come and take it away,’ ’’ said a gun-rights activist and boycott organizer.  That’s exactly what state officials are worried about …”

Fred LeBrun writes:

“… I don’t suppose it’s dawned on any of our legislative leaders, at least not yet, that what transpired over gun control in political Albany might actually increase the risk of gun violence rather than diminish it.  After the law was signed, I was surprised how adamant and angry a raft of callers were, even members of law enforcement … I am fearful there will be widespread non-compliance and certainly deep resentment, which in turn creates outlaws out of the law-abiding …”

Of course, nobody’s going to come out and admit they made a mistake.  Certainly not Cuomo, even if the issue starts hurting his purported presidential ambitions.

As a follow-up to Steve McLaughlin’s list of rejected gun control proposals, newly elected Assemblyman David DiPietro tells State of Politics there was even more:

“… DiPietro said the Governor wanted the legislation to include a “two gun limit” for each household or each person in New York State.  DiPietro says the two gun provision was removed during negotiations with Senate Republicans …”