Since Gov. Hochul’s rushed, late night special session last week banning lawful concealed-carry permit holders from entering the Adirondack Park, confusion and contradictory interpretations have been expressed by residents and local State Legislators from both sides of the aisle who voted against the bill. Assemblyman Matt Simpson (R, C,I-Horicon) and Sen. Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury) announced new legislation (S9498, Assembly no. pending) that will codify the exemption of state forest preserve land in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks from the prohibition of firearms.

“In the week since the Governor called a special emergency session to push through a flawed, hastily written, and incredulously vague law to oppress our State’s law-abiding gun owners, we have seen mounting confusion and contradictory interpretations from the Majority party on what the bill even allows,” Simpson said.

“To avoid frivolous prosecution of law-abiding citizens simply exercising their Second Amendment Constitutional right now vulnerable to the vagueness of such strict laws, we must address this inconsistency by explicitly stating that state forest preserve land located in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks are exempt from the sensitive areas listed in the bill,” he concluded.

“Adirondack Park residents deserve better than vague answers and conflicting statements from the governor’s office and state legislators over the intent and application of their gun control law,” said Stec. “Instead, let’s do the correct and simple thing and pass my bill to exempt the Adirondack and Catskill Parks from this law.

“If the governor and Senate Majority agree that their rushed legislation has no impact on law-abiding gun owners, then codifying that into law should be a no-brainer,” he added. “Let’s not drag out this confusion any longer and provide our gun owners with the resolution they need and deserve.”