Marty Golden leads Republican Cave-in on Gun Rights

Tonight New York's State Senators approved  Governor Andrew Cuomo's signature gun-control package by a 43-18 vote, with Brooklyn Republican-Conservative Martin Golden joining a majority of Democrats and pushing for Cuomo's gun bill against a majority of his fellow Republicans

The New York State Senate passed the gun bill at a little after 11 p.m. tonight. The Assembly is set to take up the legislation when it returns to session at 10 a.m. Tuesday.  The bill, named the Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act, or NY SAFE Act,  includes a ban of all magazines that hold more than seven rounds and background checks for all gun sales, regardless if they are private sales.  In addition, the bill bans assault weapons, including those manufactured before 1994; that's when New York State last banned assault weapons and guns prior to that date were grandfathered in. When passed by the assembly and signed by the governor, this will most likely be the first piece of gun legislation passed in the United States since the shootings at Newtown, Connecticut.

The senate bill also included several "fig leaf" items pushed for by some of the Republicans, who had expressed a reluctance to bolstering New York’s current assault weapons ban. Among those face saving measures are a new felony for carrying a firearm on school grounds, as well as provisions allowing pistol-permit holders to request that their personal information be guarded from open-records requests. Specifically  citing such a "fig leaf" item was Senator Golden, who the NY Post reported had said the bill would also strengthen penalties for guns used in gang activities and would allow prosecution of any gang member who used a so-called “community gun.”  According to the Post, Golden said, “This legislation that we’re passing will save lives.” 

There was no debate on the measure in the state senate, but some of the senators spoke on the floor to "explain" their votes. Thus far there has been no report of any remarks by State Senator Golden explaining his vote.  Earlier after Governor Coumo had spoken about  the "Deal" crafted along with  the Republican leadership in the State Senate, Senator Martin Golden, is reported to have said after Cuomo's remarks that the Senate would immediately take up the bill on a track to pass it. Much earlier on the day of the vote, State Senator Golden was also reported to have said,  "I can't see anything killing this....  The deal is going to get done."