Collins’ campaign moving forwards

On: By: admin

Erie Co.  Exec. Chris Collins appears to be moving forward with plans to announce he will seek the GOP nomination for Governor next year.

On the plus side, he’s not Rick Lazio.  On the negative, he did join County Executives Against Illegal Guns, a MAIG offshoot created by Mayor Bloomberg and outgoing Westchester Co. Exec. Andrew Spano.  To be fair, other than the initial press release by Bloomberg/Spano, I haven’t heard of this group actually doing anything and with Spano out of the picture it remains to be seen if they ever will.

Assault on Weapons

On: By: admin

Alan Gottlieb just sent me a copy of his book, “Assault on Weapons: The Campaign to Eliminate Your Guns.” Since it was free, I’ll plug it.  It came in today’s mail so I haven’t read it, but it looks like something that would be useful for someone doing a school report on gun control.  Here are the chapter titles:

  1. A Philosophy of Hatred and Fear
  2. ‘Nobody Needs an Ak-47’
  3. Extremist Groups and Media Complicity
  4. Punishing the Innocent
  5. Legal, Political and Social Hypocrisy
  6. Right to Carry Hysteria
  7. The Process of Demonization
  8. The Campaign of Litigation
  9. The Myth of ‘Reasonable Regulation’
  10. Regaining Lost Gun Rights
  11. A Looming Battle of Philosophy
  12. The Insidious Drumbeat for ‘Tigher gun Laws’
  13. Demonization and Hope

Losing strategy

On: By: admin

The Protection in Lawful Commerce in Arms Act is doing it’s thing according to this press release from the NSSF:

“The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday handed Beretta U.S.A. and the firearms industry another victory by rejecting the Brady Center’s appeal of Adames v. Beretta U.S.A. Corporation challenging the constitutionality of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) … This is now the third time this year the Supreme Court has denied a challenge to the PLCAA backed by the Brady Center. In March 2009, the Brady Center was also involved in the appeals of Lawson v. Beretta and City of New York v. Beretta, both of which the Supreme Court refused to hear …”

This, of course, has not stopped NYAGV from pushing gun dealer liability legislation in Albany, A-1093/S-1715.

Another challenger surfaces

On: By: admin

Another possible Senate candidate surfaces, Bruce Blakeman:

“Bruce A. Blakeman, the Republican candidate for New York State comptroller in 1998, said on Monday that he was exploring the possibility of a run against Senator Kirsten E. Gillibrand next year. Mr. Blakeman, a former member of the board of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said he had been meeting with party officials and fund-raisers in recent weeks to determine the level of interest his candidacy might generate.  The initial reaction, he said, has been positive. “Most have encouraged me to consider running,” Mr. Blakeman said in a phone interview …”

It’s good to see at least some in the GOP are considering candidates outside of Rudy and G. Elmer.  I don’t think Blakeman has much name recognition right now, I forgot he even ran in ’98, but considering the strong anti-Democrat, anti-incumbent mood it’s probably best to run a relatively fresh-faced candidate instead of a party hack.  Plus, Gillibrand’s poll numbers are in the dumper and the more people hear about her the less they like her.

Problems for Stachowski

On: By: admin

One of the few pro-gun Democrats, Bill Stachowski has some problems back home and might be forced into a primary:

“… Stachowski won re-election last year with just 53% of the vote … That showed Stachowski’s vulnerability and now, it looks like one time Stachowski supporter Erie County legislator Tim Kennedy is ready to challenge Stachowski in next year’s Democratic primary …”

I don’t believe guns would be an issue in such a contest, but the primary itself would be an unnecessary distraction.

Paterson’s poll numbers

On: By: admin

Some good news for Gov. Paterson, his approval ratings are up to 36% and he’s back to beating Rick Lazio 42-40%.  The big question is still what is Andrew Cuomo going to do?  He can’t keep putting off a decision on whether he’s going to primary Paterson or run for re-election as AG.

Tirhrt not an impediment

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The NYPD shot and killed a thug in Times Square.  According to the AP:

“A machine pistol used by a street hustler and aspiring rapper shot dead in a Times Square gunfight was purchased from a Virginia gun shop by a woman who reported it stolen 10 days after she bought it, authorities said …”

So contrary to Mayor Mike’s assertions, the Tirhrt Amendment is no impediment to law enforcement.

Primary for Krueger

On: By: admin

Some good news, Liz Krueger looks like she’ll be in a primary next year.  Daily Politics reports:

“Michael Cohen, an Upper East Side Democrat who works for Donald Trump, is laying the groundwork for a primary challenge to Sen. Liz Krueger next fall …”

Sweet.  Krueger is a known anti-gunner and anti-hunter and prime sponsor of mandatory training, S-3597, and raising the age for hunting to eighteen, S-3598.