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Albany County legislators urged to pass gun resolution
Posted at: 03/11/2013 11:39 PM
By: Dan Levy
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ALBANY - Local gun owners had their sites set on Albany County legislators Monday night, demanding from them, a condemnation of the New York Safe Act.
It's a similar approach to those taken in nearly every other county across New York since the passage of new, stricter gun laws in mid January, but in heavily democratic Albany County, lawmakers weren't budging.
The Albany County legislative chamber was packed with people, purpose, and undeniable passion for the preservation of Second Amendment rights.
"The rally cry for the civil rights (movement) was: We shall overcome. For us defending our rights to bear arms it is: We shall not comply!" said Thomas Cavanagh, of East Berne.
Nearly three dozen citizens demanded to be heard during a one hour public hearing. There wasn't time enough for everyone.
Leading the rally cry was Republican Legislator Deborah Busch, who is sponsoring a proclamation to condemn the NY Safe Act.
"The most proper and honorable thing would be that the New York State Assembly, Senate, and governor's office listen to the people and move to real," Busch stated.
Of the 39 Albany County legislators, only eleven signed Busch's proclamation.
"I think it's a strong message that legislators in Albany County do not support repeal of the Safe Act," said Legislator Christopher Higgins (D - Albany).
A Siena College Poll released Monday indicates 61% approval statewide for the nation's toughest gun control laws. Clearly, that's a statistic that most in attendance weren't buying.
"If I sampled the pool in the back of this room, I have a feeling the results will be significantly different," said Vasilios Lefkaditis, of Knox, "The ignorance to expect criminals to abide by the New York Safe Act is mind-numbing."
"67% of the people (are) out of New York City, not from around here," opined Richard Bushnell. "What's the matter with you people? You better turn this law around because it ain't right."
"My combat experience tells me that an unarmed population becomes subservient to the government," said John A. Yule, a retired army master Sergeant from Cohoes. "It's a faulty law done by a questionable process."
Tom Cavanagh said he's concerned about history repeating itself.
"Look at Hitler, Stalin, Paul Pot," Cavanagh began, "All demanded registration (of guns), followed right after that confiscation, and right after that, millions of their own citizens were murdered by their government."
Busch says she intends to take her proclamation, and the list of signatures to the State Capitol by the of the week and show it to state leaders.
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