Town of Ontario resolution opposing the NY SAFE Act

RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO SAFE NEW YORK AND THE PROCESS OF ENACTMENT

WHEREAS, the United States Constitution second amendment, as well as New York State Civil Rights Law, guarantee our citizens the right to keep and bear arms; and

WHEREAS, the people of the Town of Ontario derive economic and environmental benefits from all safe forms of recreation involving firearms, including hunting and target shooting; and

WHEREAS, this legislation creates an environment in our area and across the state which is hostile to gun manufactures and those who sell and service firearms; and

WHEREAS, requiring law-abiding gun owners to verify ownership of certain types of firearms every five years, in addition to registering them on their permits, which now also must be renewed every five years, does not increase the safety of the public and is an unnecessarily burdensome to the residents of the Town of Ontario and New York State; and

WHEREAS, NY SAFE ACT fails to offer any meaningful solutions to gun violence and places increased burdens on our law abiding citizens; and

WHEREAS, the manner in which this legislation was brought forward for vote in the State Legislature is deeply disturbing to the Ontario Town Board asking for a vote in only 22 minutes rather than following the Legislatures own 3 day rule and not allowing any testimony from a variety of knowledgeable people; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Ontario Town Board add its voice in opposition along with the Wayne County Legislative Board and a number of Wayne County towns to the NY SAFE Act (Chapter1 of the Laws of 2013), and request the repeal of any legislation, including the sections within the NY SAFE ACT which infringe upon the right of the people to keep and bear arms; and further be it

RESOLVED, that the Ontario Town Board strongly encourages members of the New York State Legislature to hold public hearings to address the issue of gun violence in a way that will produce meaningful results; and further be it

RESOLVED, the Ontario Town Board opposes the imposition of any fees on New York State gun owners to finance the new provisions of the SAFE Act and any costs associated with the implementation of the SAFE Act must be borne by the State; and be it further

RESOLVED, that the Clerk of the Town of Ontario certify and communicate this resolution to New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo; US Senator Charles Schumer of New York; US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York; US Congressman Daniel Maffei of New York, representing the 24th District; New York State Senator Michael Nozzolio, representing the 54th District; New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, representing 65th District; and New York State Assemblyman Robert Oaks, representing 130th District.