Posted: 7/10/2015 4:54:43 PM EDT
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I have not seen a posting by nyrkba yet but I received an email alert from NYSRPA that states the following. I was thinking it was April 1st but who knows: http://www.nystateofpolitics.com/2015/07/senate-republicans-cuomo-administration-agree-to-safe-act-changes/ Senate Republicans and Gov. Andrew Cuomo administration’s agreed to key changes in the sweeping 2013 gun control law known as the SAFE Act, according to a memorandum of understanding released on Friday afternoon. "This is a clear victory for Second Amendment rights in New York,” said Sen. James Seward, a Republican from Oneonta whose district includes the gun manufacturer Remington Arms. "While I will continue to work for full repeal of the poorly crafted, over-reaching NY-SAFE Act, this is a significant accomplishment – and constitutes the only modifications that have been made to this law since it was enacted two years ago over my objection.” The document, signed by Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan and Director of Operations Jim Malatras includes an agreement to suspend portions of the SAFE Act that created a statewide database for ammunition purchasers to undergo a background check — a project that was hampered by technical glitches since state officials sought to implement it. The MOU stipulates that no state money will be used to maintain the database, while noting the leadership of the State Police has acknowledged there is a "lack of technology” for maintaining the database. State Police Superintendent Joseph D’Amico earlier in the year told state lawmakers the database essentially remained a work in progress even as a deadline to develop it had come and gone. At the same time, a ban on the Internet sale of ammunition has been lifted. The agreement itself is not a wholesale upending of the law, which has angered gun-rights advocates and owners across the state. Flanagan in May had pledged to push for SAFE Act changes after he replaced fellow Long Island Republican Dean Skelos as the majority leader, who stepped down following a corruption arrest. Flanagan immediately faced skepticism from upstate Republicans for his vote in favor of the SAFE Act, but legislative changes to the measure were always unlikely given Democratic majority in the Assembly. Cuomo has long touted the passage of the SAFE Act as one of his most significant legislative achievements during his first term. Cuomo’s name does not appear on the memorandum. The package, which included measures aimed at illegal weapons as well as expanding penalties for those who kill first responders, was approved in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., elementary school shooting that left 19 people dead. |