An information session on the state's new gun control laws at the Clarence Library Tuesday drew hundreds of fired up citizens. Many gun owners made no bones about expressing their extreme displeasure with New York's recently-passed SAFE Act.
The information session, organized by the Cuomo Administration, was held in a small conference room that forced dozens of people to listen from the hallway as lawyers for the state tried to explain the legislation.
Erie County Commissioner of Central Police Services John Glascott started off what, on more than one occasion, turned into a shouting match.
"Many believe that this law strikes the appropriate balance, taking guns out of wrong hands while continuing to ensure the rights of law-abiding gun owners," Glascott said to murmurs from the crowd.
Glascott was followed by lawyers for the state who were repeatedly interrupted and heckled as they tried explaining the fine print in the gun law.
"I'm not here to speak for the governor. I'm here to try and answer questions about what the law says and try and help people comply with the law who want to comply with the law," said Michael Green, Executive Deputy Commissioner, NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services.
Supporters of tougher measures cited the mass shooting at Newtown, Connecticut's Sandy Hook elementary school and the first responders shot and killed near Rochester in December as an example of why stricter rules are needed.
Opponents said the law is just the first step towards the government seizing the firearms guaranteed to citizens under the Constitution. Guns, per se, they said, are not the problem.
"There was a young lady that was stabbed to death in a Walmart parking lot. That guy was in jail. They had him in jail, they let him out and three days later he murdered that girl right in the parking lot," one man said.
The lawyers repeatedly pointed out that if law abiding citizens are opposed to the bill, they should contact their elected representatives in Albany. For details online citizens can go to NYSAFEAct.com or call 1-855-LAWGUNS.
