This week, the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association–with the full support of the NRA–filed a complaint challenging the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Act in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York.
“The National Rifle Association is committed to defending the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding New Yorkers,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. “Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature usurped the legislative and democratic process in passing these extreme anti-gun measures with no committee hearings and no public input. This obvious disrespect for New Yorkers and their Second Amendment rights will not be tolerated.”
The wrongly named SAFE Act threatens severe penalties for previously lawful activities, including acquiring certain commonly-owned firearms, ammunition magazines and ammunition. It lowers New York’s arbitrary magazine capacity limit from 10 rounds to seven. It also greatly expands the state’s existing ban on commonly owned semi-automatic firearms, and will require New York gun owners to undergo background checks on ammunition purchases.
“The NRA will defend the right of law-abiding New Yorkers to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment,” added Cox, “Despite the wishes of Governor Cuomo, law-abiding citizens have a fundamental right to keep commonly possessed firearms for defense of themselves and their families and for other lawful purposes including the enjoyment of New York’s rich hunting and sporting heritage.”
Read the complaint here.
In related news, and deeply troubling in light of Cuomo ramming through his extreme anti-gun legislation, is a little-known program–also set up by Cuomo–that encourages state residents to report “illegal” gun owners in exchange for a $500 reward.
As FoxNews.com reported this week, the program allows New Yorkers to call a “Gun Tip Line” if they believe someone they know has an illegal gun, according to CBS6Albany.com. Hotline calls are answered by state police and tips are referred to local law enforcement.
“This initiative seeks to turn neighbor against neighbor and use their own tax dollars to pay for the $500 reward,” Republican Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin told the station.
Three police agencies contacted by CBS6Albany.com for comment said they have not received tips from state police, and two of the agencies said they were unaware the program existed before this week.
Reminiscent of programs in Cuba or the former Soviet Union, the “reward for turning in your neighbor” program is another example of overreaching by the anti-freedom, power-hungry Cuomo administration. It is outrageous, and it is un-American.
The FoxNews.com article further notes that, although Cuomo said Wednesday that the gun bill was developed over months within his administration, it was rushed to a vote in the Legislature after closed-door negotiations on Jan. 15. Cuomo also issued an order that suspended the normal three-days public review period for all bills under the state constitution.