It was obvious before the ink was dry on the page that Democrats’ rushed and reckless gun laws were unconstitutional. The federal court ruled correctly [on Oct. 6 blocking elements of the state’s new concealed-carry restrictions]. It should serve as a lesson to Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative Democrats about what happens when they try […]
It was obvious before the ink was dry on the page that Democrats’ rushed and reckless gun laws were unconstitutional. The federal court ruled correctly [on Oct. 6 blocking elements of the state’s new concealed-carry restrictions]. It should serve as a lesson to Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative Democrats about what happens when they try to create new laws in a frenzied attempt to get a headline.
Gov. Hochul called an extraordinary session of the legislature to pass gun bills that make no one safer, that punish law-abiding gun owners, and that create total confusion for permit holders, law enforcement, and local governments. Crime is still rampant, but military reenactments and 21-gun salutes could be considered felonies under the severely flawed and unconstitutional laws.
As I’ve said from the outset: Criminals willing to commit violent crimes do not care about designated safe zones, permit-training courses, or social-media accounts. Fortunately, several provisions in these bills were thrown out [Oct. 6] by the court. Once again, we’re reminded that the only people impacted by gun restrictions are the individuals already abiding by the law.
William (Will) A. Barclay, 53, Republican, is the New York Assembly minority leader and represents the 120th New York Assembly District, which currently encompasses most of Oswego County, including the cities of Oswego and Fulton, as well as the town of Lysander in Onondaga County and town of Ellisburg in Jefferson County. This article is drawn from an Oct. 6 statement from Barclay in reaction to the ruling that day by U.S. District Court Judge Glenn Suddaby, temporarily blocking New York State’s recently passed Concealed Carry Improvement Act. That new law imposed a series of restrictions on concealed-carry permit applicants and enacted other gun-control measures after the U.S. Supreme Court in June struck down a more restrictive longstanding state gun law.