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."
UPDATE: One of the most outspoken opponents of Cuomo's SAFE gun bill, State Sen. Greg Ball (R-Putnam) called it, "...a big nasty...”
ReplyDeleteSenator Ball also said “I’m a solid second amendment guy. I think we have to do everything we can to keep our communities safe but I do not agree with taking an entire category of rifles and shotguns that are currently legal in the hands of people who are currently obeying the law and making them illegal and turning those individuals into criminals.” Then he added, “I don’t think any lives will be saved today. The only life that may have been helped is the political life of Andrew Cuomo running for president.”
UPDATE: The Governor Andrew Cuomo-supported New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement[SAFE] Act is now law.
ReplyDeleteThe Democrat-controlled Assembly approved it 104-43 Tuesday afternoon. Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the measure into law less than an hour after it won final passage in the Lower Chamber of the Legislature. It had passed the NYS Senate last night at about 11:20 PM; and passed the Assembly this afternoon sometime before 4:00 PM.
Many in the national media are characterizing the legislative support for Cuomo's gun bill as "bi-partisan."
Does Gallo have the balls to call Golden out ont he next radio show?
ReplyDeleteLet's wait and see.
ReplyDeleteIt's a good way to test the extent of the State Senator Martin Golden's infection of the whole Brooklyn GOP establishment.