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Rally Against NYS Gun Laws Outside Old Erie County Hall Franklin St., Buffalo, 1 pm  As they have done in Niagara County in recent days (pictured above) , guns rights activists opposed to the state's new gun control law will rally as legislators consider sending a message to Albany about the law. The Second Amendment Coalition of WNY is asking gun rights supporters to turn out on the steps of Old County Hall on Franklin St. at 1 pm, and concentrate their ire on Erie County legislature Democrats who do not advocate repeal of the Albany law. "Maybe the Majority Caucus didn't see the pictures or read the reports of 3200 of us that showed up in Niagara Square on January 19th. Perhaps they are not aware of the 23 other counties that have already passed resolutions opposing the SAFE Act. Didn't they read the Erie County Sheriff and PBA's letter condemning this unconstitutional law?," the coalition wrote in a e-mail promoting the rally. "Is it possible they are unaware of the multitude of groups that recognize it's unconstitutionality, including the New York State Sheriffs’ Association and the New York State Association of County Clerks?," the rally organizers asked, in the mailer.
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John Mills, Republican Minority Leader
Legislature Chair Betty Jean Grant (D-Buffalo)
The Republican-led minority coalition needs just one Democrat to vote with them to pass a resolution like other counties have asking for Albany for a full repeal.
"The New York SAFE ACT should be repealed, re-visited, carefully considered, revised and implemented in a manner that is respectful to the second amendment rights of New Yorkers," the resolution says
READ A COPY HERE.
In recent weeks, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Niagara, Wyoming, Orleans and Livingston County legislatures have all passed similar repeal messages.
The state law, passed in late January, reduces the maximum legal magazine size from 10 bullets to seven. The law also redefines assault weapons to include semiautomatic rifles with detachable magazines that have one military-style feature such as a pistol grip, flash suppressor or bayonet mount, instead of two.
Owners of an estimated 1 million formerly legal guns can keep them but are required to register them with state police within a year.
The Erie County Democrats-- which have a slim majority - have their own resolution urging Albany to specifically change the parts of it calling for gun re-registrations. It also asks for lawmakers to scrap portions of the law that requires psychologists or psychiatrists to report dangerous patients that talk of gun use.
That resolution says the legislature "strongly encourage(s) members of the New York State legislature to hold public hearings to address the impact of this new law and gun violence in a way that will produce meaningful results," READ A COPY HERE
Two Democratic members of the legislature- Thomas Loughran of Williamsville and Majority Leader Tom Mazur of Cheektowaga- have signed on to neither bill and could end up being the swing votes that help either one pass.
The legislature's work session begins at 9:30 Thursday, with a full session and expected votes on the gun resolutions during a meeting that starts at 2 pm.