Assemblyman Marc W. Butler (R,C,I-Newport) joined Assemblyman Raymond Walter (R,C,I-Amherst) to call for a formal investigation into the events surrounding the improper pistol permit seizure in Amherst last month. It is unclear why the man, who is Walter’s constituent, had his permit revoked – it may have been mistaken identity or the seizure may have been triggered by a violation of the man’s private medical and health history. This confusion has prompted Butler, Walter and other legislators to push Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott to launch a formal investigation to discover what, exactly, happened during the incident.
“I can’t say it enough, Gov. Cuomo’s gun control law is probably the worst piece of legislation I’ve seen in my long career – it violates the Second and Fourth Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens and was so hastily pieced together that our law enforcement and local municipalities are bound to run into problems like this,” said Butler. “I want to know exactly what happened in this case, and I call on the Inspector General’s Office to step in here. In the end, however, we know the buck stops with Gov. Cuomo and his ill-conceived law. Cuomo’s gun-grab law must be repealed now so that no other incidents like this happen to New York citizens.”
The letter to Inspector General Scott was signed by 41 assembly members. A few efforts were made by the governor to correct portions of the law, such as the provisions that impact law enforcement, but these were unsatisfactory for some, who feel the law shouldn’t exist at all. Butler, who has held several informational sessions on Cuomo’s gun control law, still believes a full repeal of the law is needed.