Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN Legal & Legislation

New York: Second Amendment and Legislative Process Assaulted in Albany Late Last Night

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Contact your Assemblyman NOW before they vote this morning

 

Just before midnight and within minutes of the bill text becoming available to the public, the New York Senate passed radical anti-gun legislation late last night.  Without any committee hearing or testimony, without public comment or even proper legislative procedure, anti-gun Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders, including Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver have cut a deal and sacrificed your constitutional rights that they swore to protect.  As a result, the state Senate passed S.2230 by a 43-18 vote and the Assembly will vote on it today.

The Second Amendment and legislative procedure became the sacrificial lamb in New York as Governor Andrew Cuomo's quest for headline-grabbing gun control was rammed through the Senate in the dark of night.  Anti-gun former Gov. Eliot Spitzer has described Governor Cuomo as "the dirtiest, nastiest political player out there...," and that certainly rang true during the wee hours of the morning as they deceptively slipped through their all-out assault on the Second Amendment and the law-abiding citizens in New York. Determined to steal the thunder from an anti-gun White House, Cuomo made passing gun control the first major issue of the 2013 legislative session.  Cuomo seized the opportunity to exploit tragedy and put his own personal politics ahead of sound public policy.  New York, with some of the strictest gun control laws in the country, is on the verge of enacting even more onerous laws on the backs of gun owners.  In fact, according to the Brady Campaign's national ranking of state gun control laws, New York is the fourth "best" (most restrictive) in the nation BEFORE this legislation is enacted.  Instead of preventing crime and punishing criminals, S.2230 focuses only on law-abiding gun owners and will do nothing to address public safety or crime.

Cuomo utilized a rarely-used executive trick, a "message of necessity" to circumvent the normal legislative procedures that are strictly followed on hundreds of bills each legislative session.  This scheme allowed this bill to be considered for a vote on the floor of each legislative chamber without the normal committee hearings and public input.  Proponents of S.2230 are obviously embarrassed to have any sunlight on this extreme anti-gun legislation and provide time for the public to review and comment on it through the normal legislative process. Such backroom dealing on constitutional rights is outrageous and disgraceful. And such an assault in Albany on Second Amendment rights and democracy is the true assault weapon.

S.2230 lowers New York's magazine capacity limit from ten rounds to seven.  It expands the state's existing pseudo (semi-auto) "assault weapons" ban by addressing pre-ban firearms.  Incredibly, S.2230 will also require background checks on ammunition purchases and prohibit online sales of both firearms and ammunition.  These failed gun control ideas will have no impact on public safety and crime, but the New York Senate gave no consideration to that reality.  Only eighteen Senators voted against S.2230 (see below) and only Senators Greg Ball and Kathy Marchione spoke against it.  While lawmakers could have taken a step toward strengthening mental health reporting and focusing on criminals, they opted for politics and punishing law-abiding gun owners in New York.

The NRA-ILA lobbyist spent days in Albany talking to Senators and Assembly members, acquiring information from closed door meetings as legislative leaders huddled with the Governor's office in a backroom at the Statehouse.  Lawmakers, bombarded by calls and e-mails from NRA members, became complicit in the Governor's plan when they convened late last night.   The Governor and the New York Senate launched an historic assault on the Second Amendment, leaving only Assembly action expected today where Democrats hold a supermajority.

Call your Assemblyman now to oppose S.2230.  Please review the recorded Senate vote and remember it when Senate candidates seek your support in future elections. 

Contact information for your Assemblyman can be found by clicking here.

These Senators voted to protect your rights:

Senator Ball

Senator Bonacic

Senator DeFrancisco

Senator Gallivan

Senator Griffo

Senator Farley

Senator Libous

Senator Larkin

Senator Maziarz

Senator O'Mara

Senator Razenhofer

Senator Seward

Senator Young

Senator Little

Senator Marchione

Senator Nozzolio

Senator Ritchie

Senator Robach

TRENDING NOW
Nancy Pelosi: Pro-Gun Voters Made an Impact

News  

Monday, November 18, 2024

Nancy Pelosi: Pro-Gun Voters Made an Impact

Congratulations NRA members and other pro-gun voters! Once again, our votes helped make the difference.

Federal District Court Strikes Down IL’s “Assault Weapon” and “Large-Capacity Magazine” Bans in NRA-Supported Case

Saturday, November 9, 2024

Federal District Court Strikes Down IL’s “Assault Weapon” and “Large-Capacity Magazine” Bans in NRA-Supported Case

Today, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois struck down provisions of the Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA) that prohibit “assault weapons” and “large-capacity magazines” in an NRA-supported case, Barnett v. Raoul.

Bloomberg’s Mayors, Back in the News!

News  

Monday, November 18, 2024

Bloomberg’s Mayors, Back in the News!

Just a few short weeks ago, we wrote about Michael Bloomberg’s controversy-dogged gun control organization, Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG), and how another high-ranking member of the group had been indicted for allegedly committing serious ...

Make Crime Illegal Again

News  

Monday, November 18, 2024

Make Crime Illegal Again

While less prominent than the red sweep of the nation’s electoral map and the triumph of President Donald Trump, another telling development following the 2024 elections was the number of Californians in ultra-progressive strongholds who ...

NRA Files Amicus Brief Arguing that Washington’s Magazine Ban Violates the Second Amendment

Friday, November 15, 2024

NRA Files Amicus Brief Arguing that Washington’s Magazine Ban Violates the Second Amendment

Today, NRA filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court of the State of Washington in a challenge to Washington’s prohibition on magazines that hold over 10 rounds.

Michigan: Take Action Against "Gun-Free Zone" Bills Today!

Friday, November 15, 2024

Michigan: Take Action Against "Gun-Free Zone" Bills Today!

Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety SB 857 and SB 858 with amendments and the bills will now be eligible for votes on the Senate floor. Please use the take action button below and ...

PREFILING OF LEGISLATION BEGINS IN TEXAS FOR THE 2025 SESSION

Friday, November 15, 2024

PREFILING OF LEGISLATION BEGINS IN TEXAS FOR THE 2025 SESSION

Prefiling of legislation for the 2025 Regular Session of the Texas Legislature began on Tuesday.  Within the first three days, more than 75 firearm-related bills had been filed, the majority of which were anti-gun measures ...

Michigan: House of Representatives to Take Important Vote on Anti-Gun Bills

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Michigan: House of Representatives to Take Important Vote on Anti-Gun Bills

Tomorrow, the Michigan House of Representatives is expected to vote on two packages of anti-gun bills. Use the take action button below to contact your Representative and urge them to oppose these anti-gun bills!  

Grassroots Spotlight: North Carolina Grassroots

Take Action  

Monday, November 18, 2024

Grassroots Spotlight: North Carolina Grassroots

The North Carolina NRA-ILA Grassroots Team recently held an NRA “Day of Action” event to coincide with the start of early voting in the Tarheel State, and to encourage our Second Amendment community to “Get Out and Vote”!

Michigan: Senate Committee to Vote on Expanding Gun-Free Zones

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Michigan: Senate Committee to Vote on Expanding Gun-Free Zones

Tomorrow, the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety will take up SB 857 and SB 858. These bills would dramatically expand “gun-free zones” in the state and drastically limit where those with a concealed pistol ...

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.