On Tuesday, the Senate Codes Committee defeated two measures that would have taken yet another swipe at the Second Amendment in the Empire State. Both measures were defeated with a 9 to 7 vote. Despite the widespread opposition to the deeply flawed SAFE Act, anti-gun lawmakers in Albany have not stopped their attempts to infringe on the constitutional rights of New Yorkers. It's clear that their real agenda is to ban virtually all guns, and they won't relent until they succeed. Despite having some of the most restrictive gun laws in the country, downstate politicians have introduced dozens of anti-gun bills this session that we continue to fight at the Capitol. Thank you to all of the NRA members and Second Amendment supporters who contacted lawmakers this week. Your efforts helped to defeat the following two bills:
Senate Bill 2050, sponsored by state Senator Daniel Squadron (D-26), would ban .50 Caliber rifles which are almost exclusively owned by collectors and competitive shooters. Anti-gun legislators have never been able to demonstrate cases where this gun has been used in a crime. This legislation would have zero impact on public safety and would do nothing but add insult to injury to the state’s already beleaguered firearms community.
Senate Bill 2491, sponsored by state Senator Liz Krueger (D-28), would force gun owners to lock up their guns in the home which would only give criminals an advantage. This legislation is dangerous in that it renders firearms useless in self-defense situations. S.2491 would create six new crimes within article 265 of the penal law and creates felony penalties. Every household is different and firearms storage should be a matter of personal responsibility not mandated by legislation.
Please continue to follow NRA-ILA alerts as we continue to fight against anti-Second Amendment bills in Albany.