Lobby day aftermath

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About 1500 people showed up in Albany to lobby their legislators in the LOB/CAP yesterday.  Here is some of the media coverage we got:

Shelly didn’t like this.  The Assembly usually goes into session mid-afternoon, but he called it in the morning so as to keep gunnies away from their Assemblymen.  He also booked all the conference rooms so there was no place to gather other than the Well and the reps. offices.

Michelle Schimel (who is on the NYAGV Board) didn’t like it either, which probably had to do with her having to walk through all those gunnies in order to get to her office.  She passed around a letter attacking the NRA on microstamping.  It was lame.

Schneiderman v. Rice

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Liz Benjamin writes:

“… Insiders believe the fight for the Democratic AG nomination will likely come down to a battle between [Eric] Schneiderman on the left with support from labor unions and so-called “progressives,” and Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice running from a more centrist base (suburban, tough on crime etc.) …”

Both are antis, but Schneiderman is a movement antigunner.  He promotes their agenda in the legislature.   The only good thing about him running for AG is that he would have to give up his Senate seat to do that.

258,700

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Number of shell casings collected by COBIS as of January 1: 258,700

Number of crimes solved because of COBIS as of January 1: 0

News of the day

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Despite popular demand, the state legislature reconvenes Monday morning for the second half of the 2009-10 session.

Nominations for the “CNY Sportsman of the Year” are being sought.

This Thursday the DEC will be holding a “Sportsman and Conservation Group Conference” in Albany.  No, I didn’t get an invitation.

NRA’s response to MAIG’s “Blueprint for Federal Action”:

“… Fortunately, Bloomberg’s latest effort has been mostly ignored by legislators and the media …”

NYPD denies a pistol license to detective:

“An NYPD detective who risked his life to infiltrate the Mafia has been stripped of the right to carry a firearm because of a line-of-duty injury … After suffering serious injuries in an on-duty car accident, [Rick] Cowan had a shunt put in his head – a device that carries a small risk of complications if he suffers a blow to the head. Department officials are concerned that if Cowan lost consciousness, he would be unable to safeguard his firearm and consigned him to its “no carry” list …”

That’s stupid.

“… “He’s being deprived of a firearm for no logical reason,” said his lawyer, Jeffrey Goldberg …”

Well, gee, so are ordinary citizens in NYC.

Kaplowitz thinking of another bid for State Senate

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The Putnam Co. News and Reporter says that Westchester legislator Mike Kaplowitz is considering another run for State Senate in SD-40.  He messed with the idea of “smart guns” in the past.  See county board minutes here and here.

Legislative Report #16

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Legislative Report #16 is now online.  An abbreviated version is available in a flyer for lobby day on the 12th.

More problems for Stachowski

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Bill Stachowski looks as if he’s going to have a serious fight within his own party to hold onto his Senate seat.  In addition to Tim Kennedy, legislative aide Michael Kuzma has announced his candidacy.  According to the Buffalo News two others are expected to run as well.

Still no indication yet that Stachowski’s pro-gun history will be an issue, although this statement by Kuzma is cause for concern:

“… [Kuzma] has said he will run a “left of center” campaign for the post, hoping for success in what is proving a crowded field …”

Susan Molinari considering Senate run

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Another name surfaces as a possible Senate candidate, Susan Molinari.  The Advance writes:

“Former GOP Rep. Susan Molinari is looking at running against Democratic U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand this year … Ms. Molinari said she is being urged to run by her father, former Congressman and Borough President Guy Molinari, and by former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, both of whom called her yesterday … Guy Molinari said he called his daughter after despairing that no “star candidates” had emerged to take on Ms. Gillibrand …”

Not a good sign.  The GOP looks desperate for a RINO candidate.  I can’t remember exactly what her NRA rating was when she was in Congress, but I think it was either a C- or D something.

The right to ban handguns

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Mike Quigley and Carolyn McCarthy are leading a group of Congressmen by filing a brief in support of the handgun ban in the McDonald v. Chicago case.  According to the Chicago Sun-Times:

“U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Chicago, had 54 members of congress join his friend-of-the-court brief Wednesday that urged the court to leave Chicago’s handgun ban in place … Quigley was joined by New York Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, who added, “Stripping local governments of [the right to ban handguns] would put families and neighborhoods at risk by disregarding the expertise of local officials who possess an intimate knowledge of the unique characters of their communities and the problems they face.” …”

Other New Yorkers signing onto it include the usual suspects: Gary Ackerman, Tim Bishop, Yvette Clarke, Joseph Crowley, Eliot Engel, Steve Israel, Nita Lowey, Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, Charles Rangel, Jose Serrano, Louise Slaughter, Edolphus Towns and Anthony Weiner.

They have to know that after we get incorporation in Chicago, New York will be a prime target for litigation.