A group representing local governments in Erie County is supporting calls to repeal the state’s new gun- control law.
At its monthly meeting Thursday, the Association of Erie County Governments went on record in opposition to the 2013 New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act, commonly known as the NY SAFE Act. The law was approved Jan. 15 by the State Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo the same day.
The association is made up of representative lawmakers from the 25 towns, 16 villages and three cities in Erie County. They represent about 1 million people.
The association approved a resolution that says the SAFE Act is a violation of the Second Amendment of the Constitution and that it infringes on the rights of citizens in the state without due process.
The resolution also charges that the new law was rushed through the State Senate and Assembly without benefit of a public hearing or input from law enforcement agencies in the state.
Association members added that state lawmakers have had little time to review the bill and insisted that any gun restriction measures should focus on increasing penalties for criminals who use firearms and address those who are mentally ill.
In approving the resolution, the association called for a repeal of the law as it currently exists.
Also at Thursday’s meeting, the association unanimously passed resolutions in opposition to some items in Cuomo’s 2013 budget proposals, including a provision that seeks to impose limitations on the plea bargaining process for motorists who are issued speeding tickets for driving 20 miles or more over the posted speed limit. As a result, the association is calling upon the governor and the Legislature to increase the reimbursement fees the state provides to towns for funding the operations of their town courts.
The association also opposed a provision in the governor’s budget that members said would greatly restrict the ability of local economic development agencies to use the exemption of state sales tax as part of economic development incentive packages. The provision restricts the use of the sales tax exemption to just seven business categories of the “Excelsior Jobs” tax credit program.
email: hmcneil@buffnews.com
At its monthly meeting Thursday, the Association of Erie County Governments went on record in opposition to the 2013 New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act, commonly known as the NY SAFE Act. The law was approved Jan. 15 by the State Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo the same day.
The association is made up of representative lawmakers from the 25 towns, 16 villages and three cities in Erie County. They represent about 1 million people.
The association approved a resolution that says the SAFE Act is a violation of the Second Amendment of the Constitution and that it infringes on the rights of citizens in the state without due process.
The resolution also charges that the new law was rushed through the State Senate and Assembly without benefit of a public hearing or input from law enforcement agencies in the state.
Association members added that state lawmakers have had little time to review the bill and insisted that any gun restriction measures should focus on increasing penalties for criminals who use firearms and address those who are mentally ill.
In approving the resolution, the association called for a repeal of the law as it currently exists.
Also at Thursday’s meeting, the association unanimously passed resolutions in opposition to some items in Cuomo’s 2013 budget proposals, including a provision that seeks to impose limitations on the plea bargaining process for motorists who are issued speeding tickets for driving 20 miles or more over the posted speed limit. As a result, the association is calling upon the governor and the Legislature to increase the reimbursement fees the state provides to towns for funding the operations of their town courts.
The association also opposed a provision in the governor’s budget that members said would greatly restrict the ability of local economic development agencies to use the exemption of state sales tax as part of economic development incentive packages. The provision restricts the use of the sales tax exemption to just seven business categories of the “Excelsior Jobs” tax credit program.
email: hmcneil@buffnews.com