“ALMOST UNANIMITY”
by New York State Grassroots Groups
(Mar. 30, 2015) — FULL REPEAL OF THE SAFE ACT – A Historic Moment IS at OUR Doorstep.
Folks, WE have come a long way and WE CAN get this job done. FULL Repeal of the Safe Act IS inevitable “IF” WE Do NOT Quit – “IF” WE Do NOT Back Down – “IF” WE Keep Pushing – – “IF” WE BELIEVE.
A lot of work remains to be done before WE seek a vote. But WE CAN Win – Please read on:
It is highly unusual to have as many cosponsors on a legislative bill as WE have for FULL Repeal of the Safe Act. On a normal piece of legislation, a bill with this many cosponsors would be brought up for a vote. But WE know FULL Repeal of the Safe Act is NOT normal legislation. WE know WE need as many cosponsors as possible.
Repeal of the Safe Act has the numbers, but the numbers are unorganized and incomplete. OUR persistent PUSH has brought to light that there is almost unanimity in opposition to the Safe Act – literally NONE of the legislators favors the entire statute. OUR PUSH must now make the numbers greater and focused on OUR bills of choice – S01193 and A03943.
About Safe Act Repeal Bills: There are MANY Safe Act repeal bills submitted to the legislature year – too many to accurately keep track of – way more than a dozen. There are at least six FULL repeal bills, several [6?] to repeal about 90%, and all sorts of various bills [12?] that pick and choose various parts to repeal. There are also countless bills [100?] that make reference to elements in the Safe Act. Buried within these unrelated bills there are passages that alter, negate and/or make elements of the Safe Act ineffective. 99% of the legislators in both the Senate and the assembly are dissatisfied with the Safe Act. BTW – scholars and “government experts” agree that the document itself is so ill-composed that it is beyond “fixable.” Those who wish firearms control must scrap the Safe Act and start a new effort with a well-constructed document [that fact should resonate with the politically fearful].
In a combination of the main and best Safe Act Repeal bills there are a total of at least 68 sponsors and cosponsors, and that number keeps growing. [There are more if you add in the “miscellaneous” bills]. OUR lobby efforts have not only prompted those sponsors to sign on, but OUR efforts have revealed that beyond a super majority – in both the Senate and assembly – would like to vote for FULL repeal. Yes, absent of “political pressure” from “party bosses,” a vote for FULL Repeal of the Safe Act might yield as high as 90% in both chambers. [As best we can figure there are no more than 8 out of 213 who adamantly favor the Safe Act]. Cosponsors on a single senate bill and a single assembly bill are the key to overpowering the “political pressure.”
WE need to get ALL the cosponsors to sign on to S01193 Senate – or A03943 assembly. These two bills are identical. Making the Senate and the assembly vote on the exact same thing. Then WE must get the other legislators to also become cosponsors of those same bills. Pledging a vote to repeal is good – cosponsoring is standing behind that pledge.
Please begin here: The list below contains those Assemblymen who either sponsored, cosponsored or Voted NO for the original Safe Act. Please Push them to sign up as Cosponsors to A03943.
Janet Duprey — District 115 LOB 635 518-455-5943 DupreyJ@assembly.state.ny.us
Andrew Garbarino — District 7 LOB 529 518-455-4611Fax:631-589-0487 GarbarinoA@assembly.state.ny.us
Mark Johns — District 135 LOB 549 Fairport 549 518-455-5784 johnsm@assembly.state.ny.us
Donna Lupardo — District 123 LOB 626 Binghamton 518-455-5431 LupardoD@assembly.state.ny.us
Steven McLaughlin — Dst 107 LOB 533 518-455-5777Fax:518-272-6313 mclaughlins@assembly.state.ny.us
Dean Murray — District 3 LOB Room 430 518-455-4901 Fax:518-455-5908 murrayd@assembly.state.ny.us
Andrew Raia — District 12 LOB 629 Northport 518-455-5952 RaiaA@assembly.state.ny.us
Joseph Saladino Dst 9 LOB 720 Massapequa Pk 518-455-5305 Fax:516-541-4625 SaladiJ@assembly.state.ny.us
James Skoufis — District 99 LOB 821 Chester 518-455-5441Fax:845-469-0914 SkoufisJ@assembly.state.ny.us
Robin Schimminger Dist 140 LOB 847 Kenmore 847 518-455-4767 SchimmR@assembly.state.ny.us
Raymond Walter — District 146 550 LOB 518-455-4618 Fax:518-455-5023 walterr@assembly.state.ny.us
Here’s the email list all prepared and ready to blast out:
Subject [Spring Request]
Dear _____name_______
You voted NO on the Safe Act and/or you have openly shown support for its repeal. A very large number of your colleagues in both parties have now become cosponsors of A03943 [DiPietro]. This is a plea from fellow New Yorkers from every district in OUR state asking for YOUR name to be placed on that same bill.
Our coalition efforts, lobbying and research has revealed that beyond a super majority – in both the senate and assembly – would like to vote for FULL repeal. Yes, for varying reasons, using honest thinking, absent of “political pressure” from “party bosses”, a vote for FULL Repeal of the Safe Act might yield as high as 90% in both houses.
Our coalition has presented overwhelming proof and reasoning as to why the Safe Act must be repealed. These efforts have now yielded calmer heads and logical reasoning in regards to the Safe Act to fill the halls in Albany. There is not one legislator that does not agree that mistakes were made in the passing of the Safe Act. Most now agree rectifying the mistake(s) would gain respect rather than being a political liability.
NYS needs YOUR help to put this issue to bed and return an aspect of harmony to OUR wonderful state.
Formal request:
_______Legislator name_______
Will you Gold Card cosponsor A03943?
Will you vote for FULL Repeal of the Safe Act?
I respectfully await your reply and redress
Thank you.