Town of Duanesburg resolution passed unanimously April 11, 2013
Resolution No. 102-13
RESOLUTION AFFIRMING SUPPORT FOR THE SECOND AMENDMENT OF THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND CALLING FOR THE REPEAL OF THE NEW YORK SECURE AMMUNITION AND FIREARMS ENFORCEMENT (SAFE) ACT
WHEREAS, The Town Board of Duanesburg advocates for the protection of the rights afforded to citizens under the Constitution of the United States, which has for generations guided our Nation and served as a framework to our democracy and society; and
WHEREAS, each Town of Duanesburg Board Member has taken an oath to support the Constitution of the United States; and
WHEREAS, The Second Amendment of the United States provides for the “right of the people to keep and bear arms” and further states that this right “shall not be infringed”; and
WHEREAS, The New York State Legislature has recently adopted legislation (the NY SAFE Act) proposed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to curtail these rights through the enactment of various anti-gun measures that will significantly impact legal gun owners and various businesses and suppliers of guns and related supplies and equipment; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Duanesburg endorses and upholds Article III, Section 14 of the New York State Constitution which reads: “No bill shall be passed or become a law unless it shall have been printed and upon the desks of the members, in its final form, at least three calendar legislative days prior to its final passage, unless the governor, or the acting governor, shall have certified, under his or her hand and the seal of the state, the facts which in his or her opinion necessitate an immediate vote thereon”; and
WHEREAS, there was no urgency for the passage of the NY SAFE Act since most provisions do not come into effect for months, and the governor’s “Message of Necessity” was used as a pretext to shut out review and public comment of the bill before its passage; and
WHEREAS, As New York State already has some of the toughest gun legislation in the Country, including the Sullivan Act, and many people and groups, including some Legislators who initially supported the NY SAFE Act, have expressed concerns that the NY SAFE Act will not improve public safety in the state; and
WHEREAS, The NY SAFE Act will adversely affect the rights of the many law-abiding gun owners in the Town of Duanesburg who are granted the right to keep and bear arms under the Constitution of the United States; and
WHEREAS, The NY SAFE Act does not adequately consider acts of violence committed by those who are dangerously mentally ill or by criminals, many who are repeat offenders, and who are likely to ignore this legislation, and does not address the concerns of many residents of rural communities, such as the Town of Duanesburg, who possess firearms for the purpose of home or self-defense; and
WHEREAS, The Town Board of Duanesburg does hereby affirm support for the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and the rights afforded to residents under the Constitution, and opposes attempts to infringe on those rights;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, That the Town Board of Duanesburg affirms support for the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, and states opposition to the NY SAFE Act which restricts the rights of gun owners; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the Town of Duanesburg is hereby directed to transmit certified copies of this resolution to United States Senator Charles Schumer, United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, United States Representative Paul Tonko, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, New York State Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk, New York State Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara and Schenectady County Legislature Chair Judy Dagostino.
Council Member Ganther – Aye
Council Member Potter – Aye
Council Member Leoni – Aye
Council Member Frisbee – Aye
Supervisor Merrihew – Aye
