The grassroots group formed in opposition of the
New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms
Enforcement Act is planning another informational session here next week.

“Our job is to educate and motivate,” said
Patrick J. Morse, New Bremen, founder of the
North Country Friends of the 2nd Amendment.

The meeting is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19,
at Lowville Elks Lodge 1605, 5600 Shady Ave. It
is open to the public, and admission is free.

Mr. Morse said his group is also planning a
similar session in St. Lawrence County, with
hopes to reach people throughout the six-county
region prior to this year’s general election.

The main portion of next week’s session will be
dedicated to a Power Point presentation on the
SAFE Act that started out last year with about 20
slides but now consists of 96, Mr. Morse said.

“This has evolved a lot,” he said, adding that
the sessions help to educate attendees on how
provisions in the state law impact them.

A primary focus of the local group is also to get
people registered to vote and like-minded candidates elected to state office.

While the group does not endorse any candidates,
it does rate them concerning their stance on gun
control and the SAFE Act on its website, www.NCF2A.com.

Mr. Morse said another goal is to get the SAFE
Act overturned in court, and the group recently
contributed $3,000 — raised through the sale of
anti-SAFE Act signs — to the New York State Rifle
and Pistol Association for its legal defense
fund. A federal judge in December denied the
state association’s legal motion to repeal the
SAFE Act, but that decision is being appealed.

The stated purpose of the North Country Friends
of the 2nd Amendment is to “form an alliance of
like-minded individuals who cherish their
individual and collective rights guaranteed under
the United States Constitution, most specifically
those rights granted under the Second Amendment.”
Goals are to fight the NY SAFE Act and “maintain
a steady vigilance” on any similar laws that may be forthcoming.

Critics of the state law have been particularly
upset at its rapid passage with little public debate and no public hearings.