“This extraordinary session has proved to be an extraordinary failure, and has made clearer than ever the dysfunction of our state government under one-party rule,” said Assemblyman Chris Tague (R,C,I-Schoharie). “After beginning legislative session 23 hours later than we were supposed to, the Majority failed to take up any legislation that addresses the rampant crime, skyrocketing gas prices and runaway inflation making it tougher than ever to raise a family here in New York.

“Regarding legislation passed in response to the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, Inc. v Bruen, it is incredibly disappointing that the Majority has decided to respond to a Supreme Court ruling making our unconstitutional gun laws even more blatantly unconstitutional. As well-intended as some of these proposals may be, it doesn’t take a lawyer from Harvard to be able to see that this bill won’t survive an ounce of legal scrutiny.

“Our state’s citizens, and all Americans, have a right to keep and bear arms, and our state has done everything it can to turn what should be a right into a privilege. The bill’s near total ban oncarryinghandguns in the places peoplefeel a need to defend themselves most flies in the face of both this most-recent ruling and the text of the Second Amendment itself, so I could not support this bill, just as I would oppose any measures that infringe on the basic constitutional rights of New Yorkers.

“Additionally, I feel we should strongly consider the effect this bill will have on our small businesses, which will now be forced to wade into this political debate and project their opinion outwardly toward potential customers.”