ALBANY — It was announced Monday that a bill sponsored by NY Senator James Seward regarding amendments to the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act (SAFE Act) has been passed by the Senate.
The proposed legislation would amend and repeal several of the provisions of the SAFE Act currently in place in New York as begun by New York’s Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Chenango County Sheriff Ernest R. Cutting Jr. and Chenango County District Attorney Joseph McBride both weighed in on the proposed changes Seward wrote into the bill and the SAFE Act itself.
“I voted against the NY-SAFE Act when it was first proposed and have joined law-abiding gun owners in calling for full repeal of this over-reaching, flawed policy ever since it was rushed into law,” said Seward. “While the political landscape in our state is a deterrent to completely erasing this right-restricting law, I do want to make sure that some of the most burdensome provisions are eliminated, and my legislation helps accomplish that goal.”
“The recent legislative changes to the SAFE Act by the State Senate (which are not expected to even be brought up for vote by the Assembly), further supports my stand against the SAFE Act,” said Sheriff Cutting.
The bill, S.5837, would change various aspects of the SAFE Act if it’s moved further.
Seward’s bill would repeal the requirement that every purchaser of ammunition undergo a background check to save tax dollars on “an unworkable, intrusive mandate.”
“The changes will make it easier for responsible members of the community to go through the process,” said McBride. “It would make it easier for residents to purchase ammunition.” As of January 2014, the a portion of the SAFE Act reads that all retail sellers of ammunition must do background checks and record sales of ammunition purchased.
Gifting would once again be allowed of registered semiautomatic long guns to gamily members, who would then be required to undergo a background check. Currently, gifting to family is against SAFE Act legislation.
“The provision of allowing the gifting of firearms is another provision I support,” said McBride.
Another provision would be the shielding of pistol license applications and supporting data from public disclosure. With the bill, statistical data on registrations and decertifications would be available.
According to a release from Seward’s office, the bill “clarifies the reporting requirements of the mental hygiene portion of the SAFE Act to provide due process by more accurately identifying reported persons, providing clear notification guidelines for those reported, and simplifying the appeal process.”
Additionally, it restores the responsibility to local county clerks and licensing officials with regard to the overseeing of pistol permit recertification and the process involved. It calls on the division of criminal justice, rather than the State Police to oversee the process. “The local licensing officer will carry out any updates and counties will be fully reimbursed for their costs,” read the release.
“The NY-SAFE Act imposed new costs on law-abiding gun owners, sports shop owners, and localities. More importantly, it is a clear-cut violation of our Second Amendment rights. Along with costing us our freedoms and making gun ownership more expensive, the law has completely failed to make us any safer or prevent criminals from illegally obtaining guns. Enacting these changes is a step toward righting a substantial wrong,” said Seward.
“These are good proposed changes that are in line with keeping the guns out of the hands of criminals and the mentally ill,” said McBride. “Keeping firearms out of the hands of ordinary, responsible citizens does nothing to keep our community safe.”
Cutting said change after change to the legislation is being proposed by reasonable people via the proper processes.
“Initially, this legislation was rushed through literally in the middle of the night in a knee-jerk reaction by this Governor to a terrible tragedy,” said Cutting. “Legislation without input by law enforcement professionals or by the public we serve. We will keep speaking out against this legislation.”