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By a 7-4 vote, the Erie County Legislature has approved a resolution sponsored by Republicans to repeal the NYSAFE Act. The legislature also approved a resolution put forth by the legsilature's Democrats urging Albany to specifically change the parts of it calling for gun re-registrations. That measure- which passed unanimously-asked Albany to scrap portions of the law that requires psychologists or psychiatrists to report dangerous patients that talk of gun use. The repeal message was co-sponsored and introduced by the minority caucus of the legislature. Democrat Tom Loughran told lawmakers during Thursday's session he supports the Republican resolution opposing the gun control law. Loughran along with Terrence McCracken joined the minority caucus in favor of the resolution. Betty Jean Grant, Timothy Hogues, Thomas Mazur, and Lynn Marinelli voted against the resolution. |
"I think it's very indicative of the community's concern about this type of an encroachment of the rights of the people and the constitution," says Carl Paladino, the former gubernatorial candidate who has been leading several gun rights rallies statewide.
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 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 fact the vote on the repeal message was not unanimous (7-4) was not a main worry of Paladino.
"Some people you just won't convince of the real essence of what this is about. It's not about guns, it's about an encroachment of our constitution."
In recent weeks, Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, Niagara, Wyoming, Orleans and Livingston County legislatures have all passed similar repeal messages, but Paladino is not optimistic about this changing minds in Albany.
"They're not capable about thinking about repealing the law," claims the one-time gubernatorial candidate. "We send the most numb, lame people to Albany. You look at a guy like (Mark) Grisanti or Tim Kennedy, who voted for this, you wouldn't let them babysit your kids they're so irresponsible."
"They're not capable about thinking about repealing the law," claims the one-time gubernatorial candidate. "We send the most numb, lame people to Albany. You look at a guy like (Mark) Grisanti or Tim Kennedy, who voted for this, you wouldn't let them babysit your kids they're so irresponsible."
Analysis of the Gun Vote
from Republican Commentator Carl Calabrese
On The WBEN Liveline
Prof. Kevin Hardwick, Erie County Legislator