Blowback on CoBIS

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New Yorkers Against Gun Violence’s shill Michelle Schimel is upset that Gov. Cuomo’s budget proposal for for eliminating CoBIS and using the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) instead.  From Newsday, “Critics: Cuomo plan would hurt crime-fighting“:

“… But Schimel said the national system is severely limited because it collects data only from weapons found at crime scenes.  “With NIBIN,” she said, referring to the national system, “you need to find the gun, not just the [spent] cartridge.” …

NIBIN is limited only in so far as it’s ability to target honest gun owners.  It uses real evidence found at a crime scene as opposed to CoBIS which assumes all gun owners are criminals.  CoBIS doesn’t actually help police find the gun or the person who used it illegally.  Its best case scenario is to point to the original purchaser.

“… She wants to use the dispute to push for “microstamping” ammunition, which she says is more effective and won’t cost the state because it doesn’t require a database … “I’ve been disappointed with the results of CoBIS, too,” Schimel said.  “But CoBIS is like an eight-track tape and microstamping is like Blu-ray technology” …”

She’s disappointed because after collecting 356,631 shell casings (as of 12/11), she cannot point to a single crime which was solved because of the program.  That makes her and all gun control proponents look bad.  It also makes her microstamping proposal (which is basically another ballistic identification scheme) look bad and that is what she is really bent out of shape about.

Schimel is the only legislator I’ve seen to speak out against the Governor on this issue.  The State Police aren’t either and they administer CoBIS.  I think it’s going to take a lot more to get him to drop the idea than just her whining.

Legislative Report #14

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Legislative Report #14 is now online.

Hinchey retires

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Rep. Maurice Hinchey is retiring after spending entirely too long feeding off the public trough.  It was always a coin flip to see which way he vote and he leaves with an overall C-rating.

Some potential replacements and their ratings:

A-rated:

F-rated:

Plus Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan who is a member of MAIG.

The least of Gingrich’s problems

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ABC is planning to air an interview tonight with Newt Gingrich’s 2nd wife where she basically says his public positions on “family values” do not square with his private behavior.  I think this is the least of Gingrich’s problems.  The campaign may be able to dismiss an ex-wife’s statements as a private matter, but they cannot as easily blow off Gingrich’s behavior on the campaign trail.  Ever since losing the Iowa caucus he’s come across as mean and arrogant.  Regardless of his positions on the issues he’s a big turnoff.

Perry out

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Rick Perry is going to drop out of the presidential race and endorse Newt Gingrich.

Good riddance.  He’s been a total disappointment.

Cuomo calls for eliminating CoBIS

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Gov. Cuomo’s proposed budget calls for eliminating CoBIS.  Inside the Briefing Booklet (available here), on page 80 under Public Protection and General Government:

Repeal the requirement for a pistol and revolver ballistic identification database, known as CoBIS and replace with a nationally recognized alternative.

It is unclear what alternative he’s referring to.  I suspect it’s NIBIN, but we’ll have to wait for the budget bills to be introduced to see what exactly it is.

Romney should avoid the issue

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Mitt Romney was asked about guns at yesterday’s GOP debate.  His response:

“… I know that there are people who think that we need to new laws, we need to find new ways to restrict gun ownership … I disagree with that.  I believe we have in place all the laws we need.  We should enforce those laws.  I do not believe in new laws restricting gun ownership and gun use …”

This doesn’t inspire much confidence.  Given Romney’s lukewarm reception at NRA meetings, he has to know he’s not 2A advocates favorite candidate, but he has to come up with some answer to the question so we get this.  He should avoid the issue as much as possible as he won’t make any new friends talking about it.

Huntsman out

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Jon Huntsman is dropping out of the presidential race and throwing his support to Mitt Romney.  Given he was the only GOP candidate not to generate any sort of anti-Romney buzz this isn’t surprising.  The latest poll shows Romney with a substantial lead over his remaining rivals in South Carolina.

Newt Gingrich intends to attack Romney on gun rights in the state.  I don’t see this working as Gingrich doesn’t have the money or organization behind his campaign to make him appear as a viable alternative to Romney.  He may be right when he said, “I think the only way that a Massachusetts moderate can get through South Carolina is if the vote is split“, but that does not change the fact that Romney is the only candidate who seems to have his act together.

Brian Kolb on reciprocity, activism

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Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb was on NRA News yesterday with Ginny Simone talking about the gun control martyrs, pistol license reciprocity and the 3rd Annual Legislative Awareness Day coming in March.

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Bloomberg’s State of the City address

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Very little about guns in Mayor Bloomberg’s State of the City Address today:

“… Our city just cannot afford to wait for Washington. Not when it comes to illegal guns, not when it comes to climate change, not when it comes to creating jobs and not when it comes to raising the minimum wage …”

“… And we will not deny the demands that every New Yorker has for safe streets free from the plague of gun violence and strong neighborhoods full of energy and life …”

I was expecting much more.  Perhaps he decided to keep it low key given all the bad press New York gun law has gotten recently.