SENATOR GOLDEN COMMENTS ON GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION
Posted by Martin J. Golden on Tuesday, January 15th, 2013
RELATED ISSUES: Gun Control
________________________________________________Albany- State Senator Martin J. Golden (R-C-I, Brooklyn), a former New York City Police Officer, has issued comments following his vote to approve legislation tonight in the State Senate to protect all New Yorkers from the threat and danger of gun violence:
Tonight, the people of New York are safer because of the sensible and comprehensive public safety bill approved. This legislation is truly an accomplishment we can be proud of, and that will go a long way to making our streets, our schools, and communities safer for us all.
Throughout negotiations, we made sure not only to create additional statewide restrictions to the current assault weapons ban, but also to increase penalties. Today, we have taken a major step towards taking illegal guns off our streets and putting those who use them in jail where they belong. Just a few days ago, a father and a son were shot in a Brooklyn park, another family destroyed by gun violence.
I believe that the new crime created for the use of a community gun, legislation I championed, so that all associated with the gun are penalized, will be key to better safety. We have also voted for Kendra's Law which allows courts to order treatment of a person who has not sought treatment for serious mental illness that poses a threat to the public or to self. We cannot let gun ownership fall into the hands of folks either off our radar screen or who are mentally unstable.
As we know, gangs too have been prevalent and have caused us many problems in our war on crime in New York State. Today, we have sent and each every gang and their members a message as well that we will not tolerate their activity by creating a RICO stature for gangs.
It is my hope that every New Yorker can go to bed tonight feeling safer, with the dream of ending gun violence being realized now more than ever.
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UPDATE: NRA ‘outraged’ by ‘Draconian’ new gun law
ReplyDeleteThe following "National Rifle Association’s statement" was posted on January 15, 2013 at 4:53 pm by Casey Seiler, Capitol Bureau Chief, Albany Times-Union at: http://blog.timesunion.com/capitol/archives/176019/nra-outraged-by-draconian-new-gun-law/
"The National Rifle Association and our New York members are outraged at the draconian gun control bill that was rushed through the process late Monday evening. *** Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature orchestrated a secretive end-run around the legislative and democratic process and passed sweeping anti-gun measures with no committee hearings and no public input. *** Hammered out in a backroom in Albany, S. 2230 was quickly drafted and released 20 minutes prior to the Senate vote. It passed as the clock ticked toward midnight. *** This legislation lowers New York’s arbitrary magazine capacity limit from ten rounds to seven. It also greatly expands the state’s existing ban on commonly owned semi-automatic firearms, and will require New York gun owners to undergo background checks on ammunition purchases. *** These gun control schemes have failed in the past and will have no impact on public safety and crime. Sadly, the New York Legislature gave no consideration to that reality. While lawmakers could have taken a step toward strengthening mental health reporting and focusing on criminals, they opted for trampling the rights of law-abiding gun owners in New York, and they did it under a veil of secrecy in the dark of night. *** The legislature caved to the political demands of a Governor and helped fuel his personal political aspirations. New York lawmakers have ignored and excluded gun owners throughout this legislative process, but the NRA and our New York members remain committed to having a meaningful conversation about protecting our children and will speak frankly about the lawmakers who have failed to do so."
UPDATE: The Brooklyn Young Republican Club posted a "statement" in the form of an open letter addressed to Brooklyn Republican State Senator Golden expressing their disappointment with his Cuomo Gun Bill vote ---
ReplyDeleteHere is a copy of their statement:
Statement By Brooklyn Young Republican Club President Glenn P. Nocera On State Senator Marty Golden’s Vote On Governor Cuomo’s Gun Control Bill.
Jan 16, 2013 | Brooklyn Young Republican Club
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Dear Senator Golden. As President of the Brooklyn Young Republican Club I wanted to convey my club members' disgust with your vote on Governor Cuomo’s Gun control bill. We see this vote as a slippery slope to totally removing gun’s from law-abiding citizens . We believe that this bill will not change any future Sandy Hook type shootings,since a criminal will always find a way to create carnage wherever or whenever he wants. Especially if there is no one with a gun to stop him.That is why we need more law-abiding gun owners to stop any future Sandy Hook type shootings. Although there was one good element of the law,and that was the section on the mentally ill not owning guns. we however still feel the section of limiting the amount of rounds in a gun to 7, infringes on our second Amendment rights. We were also not comfortable in the way the bill was put up for a vote without public debate in the cover of darkness. So in closing Senator Golden we wish you would reconsider your stance on this issue if it ever comes up again for a vote in the future. Thanks for listening.
Glenn P. Nocera. President
Brooklyn Young Republican Club.
Going strong Since 1880.