NY State Senator: Gun Bill Passed In Middle Of Night Turns Law-abiding Citizens Into Criminals.”

							NY State Senator: Gun Bill Passed In Middle Of
Night Turns Law-abiding Citizens Into
Criminals.”
Steve Watson
Infowars.com
Jan 15, 2013




“Members were forced to vote on a bill they had not read”
A New York State Senator has lambasted the passing of what is being called the nation’s toughest gun
control bill, saying that it was introduced during the middle of the night, and that members were forced
to vote on the legislation when they had not even had a chance to read it.
“I simply cannot support a bill that turns law abiding citizens into criminals by creating an entire new
category of illegal firearms out of currently legal rifles and shotguns,” said Senator Greg Ball in a
statement.
“…the last minute push, in the middle of the night without critical public input from sportsmen and
taxpayers was outrageous and forced members to vote on a bill they had not read.” Ball noted.
The Senator stated that he believed the bill does nothing to address the issue of mental illness, and gave
specific examples of cases within his district, which he urged that the legislation would not help to
improve in any way.
“We haven’t saved any lives tonight, except one: the political life of a governor who wants to be
president,” the Senator said on the Senate floor, in reference to Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Ball added that he believed the NY Senate was willing to transform law-abiding citizens into criminals
“hoping on the front pages that we will be seen as preventing tragedies.”
“Good night, I voted no and I only wish I could have done it twice.” Ball concluded.
Senator Greg Ball session comments - 1/14/13 Watch Ball’s comments below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2rRSUEaLKvA
Senator John J. Bonacic, who also opposed the legislation, called it “nothing more than window
dressing designed to make people feel secure until the next tragedy strikes – all while
criminalizing the actions of otherwise law abiding citizens.”
In prepared comments, Bonacic noted ” In reading the summary of the legislation provided (my
comments below are based on how the legislation has been explained, because the print of the bill has
not been shown to Legislators as I write this – 8 PM on January 14), it appears law abiding citizens
would become criminals – eligible to be sent to jail, simply by failing to tell the government they own
guns they lawfully purchased.”
“Equally problematic is the provision in the legislation prohibiting more than seven rounds in a ten
round magazine – something irrelevant to a criminal.” Bonacic also stated.
“Under the legislation, magazines people now own, which are capable of holding ten rounds (bullets)
continue to be legal, but a person may only load seven rounds in them. It strains credibility to believe a
criminal bent on a massacre is going to load only seven bullets in a ten round magazine. Law abiding
citizens, on the other hand, who erroneously load too many bullets in a magazine, would be criminals
under the legislation.” the Senator concluded.
The bill was debated in closed door meetings, and if adopted by the New York State Assembly it will
see enforced limits on magazines, mandatory license renewal for gun owners every five years, stiffer
penalties for bringing guns on school property or using a gun to commit a crime and further restrictions
on guns that have been termed “assault weapons”.
“Under current state law, assault weapons are defined by having two ‘military rifle’ features spelled out
in the law. The proposal would reduce that
to one feature and include the popular
pistol grip,” CBS reports.
Private sales of assault weapons to
someone other than an immediate family
member would be subject to a background
check through a dealer. Also, Internet sales
of assault weapons would be banned, and
failing to safely store a weapon could be
subject to a misdemeanor charge.

Ammunition magazines would be
restricted to seven bullets, from the current
10, and current owners of higher-capacity
magazines would have a year to sell them
out of state. An owner caught at home
with eight or more bullets in a magazine
could face a misdemeanor charge.

Other provisions would see therapists
required to report to the State perceived
threats of gun violence by “mental health” patients. Those patients could then have their guns
confiscated under the law.
Cuomo told reporters, without providing specifics, that the reason the legislation was being pushed
through quickly was to avoid a potential run on sales of such weapons.
When the votes were tallied last night, the bill was overwhelmingly approved 43-18.
Senator Patty Ritchie another of the 18 to vote no on the bill, stated “…attempts to restrict legal
ownership and possession of firearms from responsible sportsmen – rather than focusing on criminals –
will not enhance the safety of our communities, and deprives law-abiding citizens of an important right
under the Constitution of the United States.”
Senator James L. Seward added “For the first time, New York will be registering rifles and confiscating
                                                         private property. We will do background
                                                         checks on the simple purchase of a box of .
                                                         22 ammo for squirrel hunting or target
                                                         practice. Someone who puts eight cartridges
                                                         in his magazine instead of seven will be a
                                                         felon. Sadly, these extreme, harsh measures
                                                         won’t stop criminals from getting guns and
                                                         using them for illegal purposes.”
                                                           “These reactionary laws force new, onerous
                                                           regulations on those who meticulously obey
                                                           the law and infringe on Second Amendment
                                                           rights… further impeding the rights of law-
                                                           abiding citizens does nothing to confront
                                                           gun violence.” Seward added.
                                                           Saying that he believed the Constitution
should be “strictly construed in a manner consistent with the intent of our nation’s founding fathers,”
Senator Lee M. Zeldin, who also voted against the bill noted:
“In our Constitution are certain rights which provide the foundation of America’s greatness. Its Second
Amendment in no uncertain terms guarantees the right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.
Its purpose was not so much about hunting as it was for a deeper and much more important
consideration of our founding fathers. The inspiration for this protection rose out of a fundamental
mistrust of government.”

“Our great nation was founded on the idea that all people have certain inalienable rights. Our founding
fathers understood that these rights were not granted by the government and therefore, shall not be
removed by it either.” Zeldin stated.
The traditional three-day waiting period for a bill’s adoption is being waived by the Democrat-
controlled Assembly, again citing a need to rush the bill through to avoid a rush on gun purchases. The
Assembly is expected to approve the bill today without hesitation, paving the way for similar gun
control measures on a national scale.
The president has said he is weighing as many as 19 different gun control measures that he could take
without congressional approval, via executive order.
New York Senate Passes Draconian Gun Bill
Kurt Nimmo
Infowars.com
January 15, 2013


The New York Senate has passed a gun bill
following governor Andrew Cuomo’s attack on the
Second Amendment during his state of the state
address earlier this month.

New York Senate passes gun control bill |
Landmark Gun Control Bill Passes in NY
Toughest Gun Law
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
feature=player_embedded&v=f5c73QIpbeQ
The legislation now moves on to the Assembly for
passage.
If enacted, owners of firearms classified as “assault
weapons” by the state will be forced to register them with the police.
A firearm will be classified as an assault weapon if it has one or more cosmetic military feature, such as
a pistol grip or a bayonet mount. Owners will be required to “recertify” their weapons after five years.
The bill contains a raft of additional regulations imposed on law-abiding firearms owners, including:
      – Limiting magazines to seven bullets (down from the national “standard” of 10)

      – Making unsafe storage of so-called assault weapons a misdemeanor

      – Outlawing internet sales of assault weapons

      – Requiring retailers that sell ammunition to register with the state, run background checks
      on purchasers, and maintain a database of all sales

      – Mandating mental health therapists report their patients if they made a credible threat to
      use a gun illegally (the police would then confiscate the firearm)

On Monday night, Cuomo declared the Second Amendment “is a scourge on society” as Democrats
said the legislation does not endanger the constitutional right to own firearms.
“This is not about taking anyone’s rights away,” said Bronx Democrat Sen. Jeffrey Klein. “It’s about a
safe society … today we are setting the mark for the rest of the county to do what’s right.”



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