Increasing Number of County Resolutions Related to SAFE Act
By: Ali Touhey
Updated: March 8, 2013
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo calls the New York S.A.F.E. Act "common sense." It's widely considered the toughest gun control law in the nation. However, close to 50 New York counties have passed or are considering resolutions related to the S.A.F.E. Act. Each are taking one of four stances: supporting it entirely, opposing it entirely, opposing parts, or opposing the process in which it was passed.
Ontario is the latest county to fall under that opposition group. Thursday night, they're expected to vote on a resolution tossing the entire thing.
"It's not their business. It's not their business."
Dodie Huber isn't shy about sharing her stance on gun control.
"It's a smack in the face of the US Constitution. The Second Amendment right was put in there for a reason."
That reason alone is cause for concern. But the East Bloomfield Town Supervisor's disdain goes ever further than that.
"There was absolutely no time to read the information," Huber said. "It was pushed through. There was no time for public reaction. These people are supposed to represent the constituents of the state of NY and they just plain disrespected us."
The Ontario County Resolution calls for tossing the law altogether.
Huber's vote involves no guess work.
"I don't think we can get much closer to a dictatorship than this."
"We want to see it repealed altogether, " added Ken Mathison who is a member of the Shooters Committee On Public Education or "SCOPE."
"It's a stupid law. It's just totally stupid," Mathison said.
He says the Resolution is a step in the right direction, and he's pleased to hear Monroe County isn't far behind.
In fact, according to Monroe County Legislature Majority Leader, Anthony Daniele, they're in the process of drafting their own memorializing resolution against parts of the S.A.F.E Act.
"There was just a lot of stuff put through very quickly and ultimately, we're opposed to the way it was done and certainly a lot of content of it."
Specifically, he said it's another unfunded mandate and believes the process was rushed.
"Yea, there are aspects that we could see sticking. But a lot of things that are a burden to law abiding gun holders in the state of New York are not necessary and over burdensome."
A draft of the resolution should be complete by Tuesday.
Although, Daniele added it's only a symbolic step that unfortunately can't change the law.
"It's not much more powerful than a lot of people writing their own letters. So, certainly the more people that are heard, the more chance that this will get redacted."
Unlike Ontario County, Monroe County won't take it up for a formal vote. Instead, legislators will be able to sign on if they want to and a copy of the signatures will be sent local state representatives and to the governor.
Ontario is the latest county to fall under that opposition group. Thursday night, they're expected to vote on a resolution tossing the entire thing.
"It's not their business. It's not their business."
Dodie Huber isn't shy about sharing her stance on gun control.
"It's a smack in the face of the US Constitution. The Second Amendment right was put in there for a reason."
That reason alone is cause for concern. But the East Bloomfield Town Supervisor's disdain goes ever further than that.
"There was absolutely no time to read the information," Huber said. "It was pushed through. There was no time for public reaction. These people are supposed to represent the constituents of the state of NY and they just plain disrespected us."
The Ontario County Resolution calls for tossing the law altogether.
Huber's vote involves no guess work.
"I don't think we can get much closer to a dictatorship than this."
"We want to see it repealed altogether, " added Ken Mathison who is a member of the Shooters Committee On Public Education or "SCOPE."
"It's a stupid law. It's just totally stupid," Mathison said.
He says the Resolution is a step in the right direction, and he's pleased to hear Monroe County isn't far behind.
In fact, according to Monroe County Legislature Majority Leader, Anthony Daniele, they're in the process of drafting their own memorializing resolution against parts of the S.A.F.E Act.
"There was just a lot of stuff put through very quickly and ultimately, we're opposed to the way it was done and certainly a lot of content of it."
Specifically, he said it's another unfunded mandate and believes the process was rushed.
"Yea, there are aspects that we could see sticking. But a lot of things that are a burden to law abiding gun holders in the state of New York are not necessary and over burdensome."
A draft of the resolution should be complete by Tuesday.
Although, Daniele added it's only a symbolic step that unfortunately can't change the law.
"It's not much more powerful than a lot of people writing their own letters. So, certainly the more people that are heard, the more chance that this will get redacted."
Unlike Ontario County, Monroe County won't take it up for a formal vote. Instead, legislators will be able to sign on if they want to and a copy of the signatures will be sent local state representatives and to the governor.
