Assemblyman Marc W. Butler (R,C,I-Newport) is calling Acting State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott to launch an investigation into the events that led to an apparent health privacy violation and improper pistol permit seizure from an Amherst man. As the details unfolded, there were contradicting accounts of what happened and, therefore, Butler believes an official investigation is needed.
“The possible violation of personal privacy due to elements of Gov. Cuomo’s SAFE Act is abhorrent. We need to get to the bottom of this, and I ask Acting State Inspector General Scott to launch an official investigation,” said Butler. “The governor’s law has created a mess for our local law enforcement and our public officials, like county clerks, who are trying to comply with this new law while being sensitive to individual rights. I believe, however, that given the complexity of this law, incidents like this will continue to occur. The only thing clear in this messy situation is that Gov. Cuomo’s ill-conceived law seems to be violating the privacy rights of law-abiding New Yorkers. This incident just adds to a long list of reasons why Gov. Cuomo’s rushed gun-grab law should be repealed in its entirety.”
Butler, a strong opponent of Gov. Cuomo’s gun control law, has been lobbying his legislative colleagues and drumming up grassroots support to repeal the law. Butler’s concern is that this law violates Second and Fourth Amendment rights and has caused a great deal of confusion and mandates on local governments. Butler feels that an investigation will reveal the serious flaws inherent in the legislation.