Assemblyman Marc W. Butler (R,C,I-Newport) held two informational sessions on Gov. Cuomo’s gun control law this week in Fulton and Herkimer counties. He was joined by Tom King, President of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association (NYSRPA) and Board Member of the National Rifle Association (NRA), Fulton County Sheriff Thomas Lorey and Herkimer County Sheriff Christopher Farber. Both events drew over 300 residents, at the Pine Tree Rifle Club in Gloversville and the Salisbury Ridgerunners Club in Salisbury respectively.
Butler had three simple objectives in planning these events: to help people protect themselves by understanding the new law; protect their jobs by introducing a bill aimed at reversing the provisions of the law that impact the manufacture of firearms at places like Remington Arms, a major employer in the region; and to seek support to repeal or make amendments to Cuomo’s so called NY SAFE Act. Butler said constituents were eager to learn what can be done to reverse the new law.
“If limiting gun violence was the objective of the governor’s gun control law, it fails to stand up to that task and instead tramples on our Second Amendment rights and threatens the jobs of my constituents,” said Butler. “This poorly-crafted law was forced on law-abiding citizens overnight and under a veil of secrecy. My constituents and I demand better from our state.”
“As President of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, I share the anger and frustration felt by Assemblyman Butler’s constituents over the content of Gov. Cuomo’s gun grab and the unnecessary urgency with which it was passed,” said King. “I commend Assemblyman Butler for trying to rectify the more onerous aspects of the gun control law pertaining to legitimate firearms manufactured by Remington Arms. I empathize with the residents and employees of the Mohawk Valley who will be impacted by this troubling law.”
Butler recently introduced a bill that will reverse the cosmetic bans put in place by the governor’s law, such as a pistol grip and a muzzle brake compensator (on semi-automatic rifles), a thumbhole stock (on semi-automatic shotguns) and a shroud attached to the barrel of a pistol. Those features qualify certain firearms as assault weapons under the law. Butler’s changes will help protect firearms manufacturers like Remington Arms, the region’s largest employer.
Additionally, Butler is circulating a petition seeking support from the public to repeal all or portions of the legislation. The petition can be found at tinyurl.com/ButlerProtect2ndAmendmentNY.
While the Assemblyman certainly believes more can be done to make communities safer, he feels the governor’s law is ill-conceived and was afforded no time for commentary from the legislature or the public. Butler is an advocate for stronger penalties against those who use firearms to commit crimes, as well as other severe penalties for violent criminals.
Butler is currently planning future events for Hamilton, Oneida and St. Lawrence counties. Additionally, he and other legislators are planning a Second Amendment Rights rally in Albany on February 28.