Passed unanimously April 8th
Town of Wayland, Steuben County, New York
BY TOWN BOARD OF WAYLAND, NEW YORK – RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT THIS 8 DAY OF April 2013.
Resolved by: Council Member John Schubmehl
Second by: Council Member Virginia Huber
Whereas, the right of the people to keep and bear arms is guaranteed as an individual right under the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and under the Constitution of the State of New York, and;
Whereas, the right of the people to keep and bear arms for defense of life, liberty, and property is regarded as an inalienable right by the people of the Town of Wayland, Steuben County, New York, and;
Whereas, the people of the Town of Wayland, Steuben County, New York derive benefit from all safe forms of firearms recreation, hunting, and shooting conducted within Wayland using all types of firearms allowable under the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of New York, and
Whereas, the Wayland Town Board, being elected to represent the people of Wayland and being duly sworn by their oath of office to uphold the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of New York; and
Whereas, the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate being duly elected by the people of the State of New York, and being duly sworn by their oath of office to uphold the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of New York; and
Whereas, legislation passed in the night, 6 hours after introduced, without any public notice or opportunity for comment by the citizens effected, by the New York Assembly and Senate infringes on the right to keep and bear arms; and
Whereas, the NY SAFE ACT bans the possession and use of firearms by individual citizens of the Town of Wayland, for defense of life, liberty, property, and would ban the possession and use of firearms now employed for safe forms of firearms recreation, hunting and shooting conducted within the Town of Wayland, Steuben County, New York; and
Whereas, the Wayland Town Board believes there are many other less intrusive means available, other han rash, confusing, and inarticulately drafted firearms laws that would effectively, control, manage and reduce violence in our society, such as, mental health reforms, enforcement of existing firearms laws to the fullest extent possible, and proper psychological counseling for those in need or who request it;
Whereas, the second amendment of the United States Constitution provides that “A well-regulated militia, be necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”; and
Whereas, in District of Columbia v Heller, 554 U.S. 570(2008), the United States Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to possess a firearm, unconnected to service in a militia; and
Now, therefore it be and is hereby resolved that the Wayland Town Board does hereby oppose the enactment of any legislation that would infringe upon the right of the people to keep and bear arms and consider such laws to be unnecessary and beyond lawful legislative authority granted to our State representatives, as there is no documented correlation between gun control measures and crime reduction.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be sent to Governor Andrew Cuomo, Lieutenant Gov. Robert Duffy, Senator Thomas F. O’Mara, and Assemblyman Bill Nojay.