Throwing It Against the Wall  by Tom Reynolds

After last Tuesday’s school shooting, Biden, Hochul and the left flew rapidly past condolences into condemnation of guns.  They throw every emotion possible against the wall, hoping something sticks.  They should try rationally thinking about guns, for a change.

Why are the left’s current emotional efforts without value or reason?

What if all civilian gun ownership in the USA was illegal?  Guns would start flowing across the southern border which is, currently, an open invitation to anyone who wants to cross it.  Create a gun shortage and guns, like drugs, will be smuggled in.  Net result, criminals will still have access to illegal guns. 

And there will be more criminals, since one will have to break the law to protect one’s family against illegally armed criminals.  As the saying goes, “when guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns”; except, you will then be amongst the outlaws.

Don’t forget the 400 million guns already in America.  Would they all disappear?  400 million is a good basis to start a “black market”.  On the positive side, shortages lead to increased prices, so the resell value of your guns would keep up with inflation. 

The left now believes 18 years old is not mature enough to own a gun.  Amendment XXVI sets the voting age at 18.  Eighteen is mature enough to vote, but not mature enough to own a gun?  A gun does short-term damage but a vote does long-term damage.  (I offer Joe Biden as proof.)

Will leftists also move to raise the voting age to 21?  Not likely, since most young people tend to vote Democrat.  Gun at 18 = immature. Vote at 18 = Democrat.

One anti-gun writer complained about “easy access” to buying a gun.  If he actually tried to buy a gun, he would discover that there may be “access”, but it’s definitely not “easy”.

Another anti-gun commentator recommended that a small compromise on our Constitutional Rights wouldn’t hurt.  And the last time the left stopped with a small compromise was when?  Many “small” compromises will continue until there is no civilian gun ownership.   

The recent Buffalo murderer chose NY State because its strict gun laws made opposition unlikely. Time for Albany to rethink disarming citizens?

The Texas shooter chose a “gun free zone”.  Killers appreciate advertising “no opposition zones”.   Research from the Crime Prevention Research Center shows that 98% of all public mass shootings that occurred between 1950 and July 10, 2016 occurred in gun free zones.

But tragedies do continue?  What is the answer?  The answer is NOT gun control.  The answer IS reversing the leftist culture and returning to traditional American values. 

Murderers kill, not because they have a gun, but because they want to.  What warped mind kills fourth graders?  One that rejects the Judeo-Christian values that founded our nation.  Remember that commandment, “Thou shalt not murder”.

Most mass murderers come from fatherless homes.  For 200 years, America championed the traditional family and believed that two parents are better than one.  Now, the current fashion on the left disparages the nuclear family. 

Remember: “I disagree with what you say but will defend your right to say it”.  Disagree with the left and you are a racist or domestic terrorist.  Biden even tried to create a government agency to monitor what you say, in case you say something they view as domestic terrorism: i.e. criticism of Democrat Party values.  Biden should get the Joseph Goebbels Award for that. 

Openly divisive rhetoric like Critical Race Theory is taught in school; if you are a white American, you must be a racist.  Isn’t that racism?  The left wants to use racism to stop racism.

Talking to a first grader about sex formerly got you arrested.  Now, it gets you a teaching position.

Boys aren’t boys and girls aren’t girls. 

If Russian interference in an American election was bad, is letting non-citizens vote good?

Should people who never attended college pay off the college loans of people who did go to college?

Why must your dog must be vaccinated but illegal immigrants need not be.

Cheat to get into college and you go to prison.  Cheat to get into the USA and you go to college for free.

Should people who never owned slaves pay reparations to people who have never been slaves?

The left keeps pushing that all bad events are due to the faults of American society and criminals are victims, not predators.  With fewer deterrents, criminals are becoming bolder.  With more criticism and lack of backing from their political bosses, police are becoming more hesitant to stick-their-necks-out. 

America was a “melting pot” where people were expected to assimilate.  Now, aberrations are celebrated and society is supposed to embrace the abnormal.  If you adopt a child, the child is assimilated into the parent’s culture, not vice versa. 

Until our culture reassimilates into traditional American values, starting with respect for life, we won’t stop these tragedies.  Meanwhile, gun sales will escalate as self-defense is a core right.

Updated Proposed Federal Legislation

PROPOSED FEDERAL GUN RELATED LAWS

The following is a list of proposed laws involving guns at the federal level.  The bill number is included under HOUSE or SENATE, depending on where the bill is introduced.  In some cases, companion bills are introduced in both the House and the Senate.

The better rendering of this report is posted at the following link:

https://scopeny2a.org/federal-firearms-legislation

Also, a Pdf version of this report can downloaded by clicking Here.

SCOPE's position on the bill is also shown.

Unfortunately, there are so many that it is difficult to concentrate on any particular bills.  But if you find one that is particularly onerous, do not hesitate to tell your Congressperson how you feel.

HOUSE          SENATE

HR0645         SB0045

OPPOSE

Educational institutions receiving Elementary and Secondary Education Grants may not use these grants to procure firearms or train in the use of firearms.

HR0748         SB1235

OPPOSE

Requirement for storage of firearms in residences if someone under 18 or someone ineligible to possess a firearm could possibly gain access to the firearm.  Fines or a crime depending on circumstances.  DOJ will give preferences to states enacting similar laws.  The wording is similar to the SAFE Act.

HR0825        SB1028

OPPOSE

Authorizes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct or support research on firearms safety or gun violence prevention.  Puts aside $50 million per year from 2022-2027

NONE            SB0183

OPPOSE

Inform FBI about people investigated for terrorism who submit NICS check. To provide appropriate information to Federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies, pursuant to investigating terrorism, and for other purposes.

Note: definition of "investigated for terrorism" and “for other purposes” could be easily abused by DC Swamp.

NONE           SB0292

OPPOSE

Mandates that states have Extreme Risk Protective Orders for up to 12 months. The wording in this bill is duplicated in the NYS Safe Act.

NONE           SB0525

SUPPORT

Revises criminal provisions related to interstate transportation of firearms & ammo. The bill prohibits the arrest or detention of an individual for a state or local firearm or ammunition violation unless there is probable cause. This bill facilitates interstate transportation of firearms and ammo.

NONE             SB0529

OPPOSE

Establishes new background check requirements for firearm transfers between private parties (i.e. unlicensed individuals).  It prohibits a firearm transfer between private parties unless a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, importer first takes possession of the firearm to conduct a background check.  The prohibition does not apply to certain firearm transfers, such as a gift between spouses in good faith.

NONE          SB0591

OPPOSE

Prohibits a licensed gun dealer from transferring a firearm to an unlicensed person.  Current law permits an FFL to transfer a firearm to an unlicensed person if a submitted background check remains incomplete after three business days. 

HR8             NONE

OPPOSE

Background checks act of 2021.  Expands NICS background check to every firearm sale and transfer, even temporary transfers.  Very partisan Democratic bill.

HR0030         SB878

OPPOSE

Gun Trafficking Prohibition Act.  Limits 3rd party firearm purchases.  Existing laws cover this.

HR0038           NONE

SUPPORT

Concealed Carry Interstate Reciprocity Act. Facilitates Concealed Carry between states.

HR0095          NONE

SUPPORT

Hearing Protection Act.  Removes suppressors / silencers from the definition of firearms under National Firearms Act

HR0121          NONE

OPPOSE

Gun Violence Reduction Resources Act of 2021. Hire an additional 200 BATFE agents.

HR0125          NONE

OPPOSE

Not Sorry Act of 2021.  Modifies firearms-related background check requirements for transfers involving a semiautomatic firearm, suppressor, armor-piercing ammunition, or large capacity ammunition magazine. 7 day waiting period on transfers of semiauto's (and others).

HR0127        NONE

OPPOSE

Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act.  Federal licensing of firearms ownership.  Establishes a publicly available database of firearms.  Also prohibits the possession of certain ammo and large capacity ammo feeding devices.  DOJ shall issue a license if the individual is 21 years of age or older and undergoes a criminal background check and a psychological evaluation and completes a certified training course and has an $800 annual premium insurance policy.

HR0130         NONE

OPPOSE

Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Safe Storage Act.  Establishes a federal statutory framework to regulate the storage of firearms and ammo on residential premises.

HR0135       NONE

NO POSITION

Accidental Firearms Transfers Reporting Act of 2021.  Requires the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to report to Congress on the number of firearm transfers when an FFL submits a background check through the NICS System and NICS fails to respond within three business days and the licensed gun dealer completes the transfer.

HR0167       NONE

OPPOSE

To prohibit the transfer of a firearm at a gun show by a person who is not an FFL.  Only FFL’s could transfer firearms at gun shows.

HR0194        NONE

SUPPORT

Report on NICS check denials of:

(1) firearm transfer denials issued by the NICS that are referred to the BATFE for investigation. 

(2) prosecutions resulting from such investigations

(3) firearms recovered by the BATFE in cases in which a denial was issued by the system after a firearm was transferred.

HR0225         NONE

SUPPORT

Allow interstate transportation of firearms or ammo. Comprehensively address the interstate transportation of firearms or ammo

HR0355        NONE

SUPPORT

Illegal Alien NICS Alert Act.  Notify ICE if illegal alien submits a NICS Check.  Requires the NICS system to notify enforcement agencies when the NICS system indicates that a prospective firearm transferee is illegally or unlawfully in the United States.

HR0405     NONE

OPPOSE

Lead Endangers Animals Daily Act of 2021.  No lead ammo on federal lands. Directs the Department of the interior to issue final regulations prohibiting the discharge of any firearms using lead ammo on all waters under the jurisdiction and control of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

HR0647      NONE

OPPOSE

Interstate Firearms Sales Act.  No interstate long gun sales.  Restricts the sale or transfer of shotguns and rifles across state lines

HR0716        NONE

SUPPORT

To promote accountability and transparency in future executive orders.  30 day public notification and reporting on Executive Orders concerning gun rights.  President must notify Congress and the public before issuing executive orders relating to the constitutional right of law-abiding individuals in the United States to own, carry, and use firearms.

HR0880       NONE

OPPOSE

Firearm Safety Act of 2021.  Put firearms under Consumer Product Safety Commission.  Allows the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue safety standards for firearms and components.

HR0882       NONE

NO POSITION

Keeping Guns From High-Risk Individuals act.  Prohibit sale / transfer of firearm to high-risk individuals. Expands the categories of persons who are prohibited from shipping, transporting, receiving, or possessing firearms or ammunition.

HR0933       NONE

SUPPORT

Home Defense and Competitive Shooting Act of 2021.  No funds for anti 2A research.  Remove short barrel rifles (rifles of less than 16 inches in length) from the definition of firearms for purposes of National Firearms Act.

HR1004         NONE

OPPOSE

Firearm Risk Protection Act of 2021.  Requires liability insurance to buy firearm.  Establishes requirements for gun purchasers and gun owners to be covered by a qualified liability insurance policy.

HR1006          NONE

OPPOSE

Gun Show Loophole Closing Act of 2021.  NICS check on all gun show sales.  Establishes new requirements regarding firearm transfers at gun shows.

HR1027        NONE

SUPPORT

Safe Bases Act.  Permits armed forces to carry concealed on military bases.  Provides statutory authority for the Department of Defense (DOD) to allow a service member to carry a concealed firearm while on any military installation.

HR1446        NONE

OPPOSE

Enhanced Background Checks Act of 2021. Expands NICS check deadline beyond 3 days.  No NICS response can suspend a gun sale from 20 days to indefinitely. 

HR1454         NONE

OPPOSE

Ghost Guns Are Guns Act.  Firearm assembly kits to be considered firearms.  Broadens the definition of firearm for purposes of federal firearms laws. Specifically, it includes as a firearm any firearm kit from which a firearm may be readily assembled.

HR147       NONE

OPPOSE

Undetectable Firearms Modernization Act.  Modernize undetectable firearms act of 1988.  Revises the federal statutory framework regulating the manufacture, possession, sale, import, shipment, delivery of firearms detectable by walk-through metal detectors after the removal of grips, stocks, and magazines.

HR1567         NONE

SUPPORT

Police Officers Protecting Children Act.  Allow L E O's & retired L E O's to carry firearm in school zone.  Specifies that certain active and retired law enforcement officers who are authorized to carry firearms are not subject to the federal prohibition on possessing (or discharging) a firearm in a school zone.

HR6225         NONE

OPPOSE

Federal Firearm Licensee Act.  Adds significant bureaucratic security and reporting requirements to FFL's.

HR3960       NONE

SUPPORT

Brian A. Terry Memorial Eliminate the ATF Act.  To eliminate the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and remove firearm restrictions on lawful gun owners and provide funds to surviving families of border patrol agents killed as a result of Operation Fast and Furious.

NONE          SB675

OPPOSE

Requires the Department of Justice to notify state and local law enforcement authorities following a firearms-related background check that results in a denial.  Also requires reports on denials to Congress. 

Note: Opens door to investigating all NICS denials even though 90%+ are later overturned.

• Tom Reynolds, President of Shooters Committee On Political Education, Inc. (S.C.O.P.E.), has issued this second, follow up statement in response to the recent tragedy at the Tops Supermarket, in Buffalo, Erie County, New York:

  On Wednesday, we pointed out how politicians were exploiting this tragedy for their own political purposes.  Since, of course, nothing can stand in the way of leftist politicians when they have the opportunity to “spin” an issue, it becomes necessary that SCOPE to point out some obvious facts, in response. 

  Previously, we referred to the policies of Biden, Hochul and Schumer as their “discredited ideology”.  The shooting at Tops, in Buffalo, provides ample evidence that it is discredited.  It is just the latest example of the complete failure, implicit racism and utter insanity of their gun control ideology.

  According to published reports:

• ·      The alleged shooter made it clear in his online “manifesto” that he chose his location and his intended victims precisely because he knew that New York’s gun control laws would render those victims largely defenseless.  

• ·      He illegally altered his weapon. 

• ·      He ignored the state’s ban on so-called “high capacity” magazines with more than ten rounds and counted on his victims obeying it. 

• ·      He intentionally targeted African Americans, a group that some legal experts say are disproportionately harmed by gun control and New York’s license requirements.    

• ·      He had previously been held for a mental health exam because of prior threats.

We keep repeating an uncontestable truth, criminals do not obey gun control laws.  That old adage is truer than ever, “When guns are outlawed only outlaws will have guns”.  The Tops shooter was counting on that.  This despicable crime succeeded because, not in spite of, futile New York laws.

It is time to end this failed, decades old, experiment and allow law-abiding New Yorkers of all races, creeds and sexes to defend themselves against violence and hate.  New York must follow the lead of other states and expand, not limit, the right to bear arms for self-defense in all locations.  Gun control madness must end now.

SCOPE is a non-partisan statewide 501(c)4 organization dedicated to preserving the Second Amendment rights of residents of New York State.  It is headquartered in Erie County, New York.  Its activities include keeping the public informed on legislation that will affect Americans’ Constitutional right to keep and bear arms, working with government officials to sponsor pro Second Amendment legislation and attending shooting sports events to increase awareness of gun rights.   SCOPE has local chapters throughout the state, with members, male and female, from all walks of life.

Tom Reynolds, President of Shooters Committee On Political Education, Inc. (S.C.O.P.E.), has issued the following statement in response to the recent tragedy at the Tops Supermarket, in Buffalo, Erie County, New York:

The shooting at Tops in Buffalo, on Saturday, was a tragedy that will impact lives forever.  In its wake, the proper responses are condolences, sympathy, remembrances and prayers.

Good leaders know that bad decisions get made in the heat of emotion. But like vampires poised over the still warm bodies of the victims, Joe Biden, Kathy Hochul and Chuck Schumer chose to drain every bit of advantage from the emotions around this tragedy.  Shame on them.  They are willing to exploit the suffering of others in order to push their own discredited ideology on America.

There was no need for immediate action by any of those three politicians as the killer was immediately apprehended.  They should have used their offices to start the healing process.  Instead, they almost immediately rushed to the like-minded media and restarted their campaigns against the 2^nd Amendment.

They seem to believe that they can bring America together by dividing it.  That more racism is the solution to racism.  And most important to them, that no tragedy goes to waste.

In the days and weeks ahead, we will learn more about what drove the murderer to this inhuman act.  Then, in a calm deliberative manner we can seek the truth.  There is an old military adage, “The first reports of the scouts are usually wrong”.  Basing unnecessary action on the breathless reporting of those first on the scene and on politicians, intent on shoring up support for their next election, is wrong.

This trio of politicians will try to focus on an inanimate object that is incapable of action without human input and the obvious mental health issues of the human that used it.  But the degeneration of our culture where human lives are tossed away must be included in that conversation.  We can’t begin to solve the issue without deliberate consideration of where our moral and religious values have gone.

School Board Elections

Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 17^th, is election day for school board members.  Historically, many people stay home and don’t vote. But the next day, many of these same people are complaining about the loss of American values and culture.  Change starts in the schools and with school board elections. 

Lynn Leonard is a SCOPE member and she is running for a seat on the Corning - Painted Post School Board. She chose to be part of the solution by taking action at the local level.  She had this to say about the importance of this election and participating in it:

“In recent years public education has lost focus, no longer believing parents should decide what is best for the education of their children”. 

“Instead of teaching the basic skills necessary to succeed after graduation, our schools have prioritized Critical Race Theory and LGBTQ activism”.

“Instead of teaching our students the blessings of liberty guaranteed by our Constitution, educators are programmed to teach that the United States and capitalism are the root cause of all the ills of the world”.

“It is time for the silent majority to speak up and demand that our schools return to a foundation of teaching proficiency in math, science, and literature”.

“As a mom and life-long educator, I choose to be part of the solution by taking action at the local level instead of complacency and complaining.  It is time to show up, speak up, and VOTE”.

“Research your local Board of Education candidates and vote on Tuesday, May 17^th.   Let your voice be heard!   If not you, who?  If not now, when”?

 Education professionals and the federal government no longer believe parents should decide what is best for the education of their children. The National School Boards Association (NSBA) sent a letter to the Biden administration comparing parents who protested school's COVID policies to domestic terrorists.  The Department of Justice then issued a memo directing the F.B.I. to investigate.  Speak your voice for the benefit of your child at a school board meeting and the F.B.I. may come calling.  

Talking to a first grader about sex would formerly have gotten you arrested.  Now, LGBTQ activism trumps common sense parenting.   

This election is the first of several elections, this year, that will determine the direction of our country.  Vote in every one of them to save your country. As Thomas Paine said, “…he that stands by it (America) now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman”.

Joe Biden Said  by Tom Reynolds

Joe Biden has pledged that he wants to unite all Americans.  This week he said: "MAGA crowd" the "most extreme political organization that's existed in American history—in recent American history." He added, “Let me tell you about this ultra-MAGA agenda: It's extreme, as most MAGA things are…" 

Joe Biden just called 74 million Trump voters, “the most extreme political organization that existed in American history.” That’s uniting America? 

Joe Biden believes that if you voted for Donald Trump:

·      you are more extreme than the Ku Klux Klan

·      you are more extreme than the Democrat Part which fought a war to preserve slavery

·      you are more extreme than the American Communist Party 

·      you are more extreme than Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez 

·      you are more extreme than those that believe you can wish yourself into a different gender

·      you are more extreme than Antifa, which led riots and routinely targeted law enforcement officers

·      you are more extreme than the Nation of Islam, a racist, antisemitic group that spawned violence such as the murderer of a Capitol Police Officer

·      you are more extreme than the New Black Panther Party which is fueled by anti-Semitism and anti-white beliefs and wants the creation of an all-black country or state within the US.

·      you are more extreme than the Weather Underground which conducted a bombing campaign targeting government buildings and several banks

·      You are more extreme than the Department of Homeland Security’s Disinformation Governance Board which has the goal of “protecting” American citizens from using their First Amendment Rights

Biden’s statements came about in response to a draft Supreme Court ruling on Roe v Wade.  Biden claimed that as a consequence of overturning Roe v Wade, “What happens if you have states changing laws saying that children who are LGBTQ can’t be in classrooms with other children?”  In the leaked draft ruling, Justice Alito explicitly said: “Nothing in this opinion should be understood to cast doubt on precedents that do not concern abortion.”  Biden also forgot about the federal laws that ban discrimination, based on sexual preference and gender.

Trump voters can now add being called “The most extreme” to the many other titles that Biden and the left have bestowed on them: Deplorables, Misogynists, anti-Science, Traitors, Religious Fanatics, Homophobes, Smelly Wal Mart Shoppers, Fascists and that old reliable – Racists.  But things you can be sure that Biden will never call them are Communists or Socialists.

The fascinating thing, missing from most of the current news, is that when he was a Senator, Biden stated in 1974, “I don't like the Supreme Court decision on abortion. I think it went too far. I don't think that a woman has the sole right to say what should happen to her body.”

And to top that off, in the 1980s he supported a constitutional amendment that called for letting states decide abortion law – which is exactly what is called for in Justice Alito’s draft ruling.

New Lt, Governor – Same Old Same Old  by Tom Reynolds

Governor Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday that she had picked U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado to be New York’s lieutenant governor, replacing former second-in-command Brian Benjamin after his resignation.  Hochul said, “I am proud to appoint Antonio Delgado…as lieutenant governor of New York, and I look forward to working with him…” 

Delgado is a Harvard Law School grad who represents the Hudson Valley in Congress.  The head of the New York State Democratic Party was asked if Delgado was picked because Empire State Democrats feared he would lose his reelection bid, Jacobs responded, “No, no. Absolutely not.” 

A source familiar with Hochul’s selection process told The NY Post “she wanted to select a Latino in order to give the Latino base a statewide elected official — something they had been asking for.” 

On Monday, Democrat majority state lawmakers passed legislation allowing candidates indicted for a crime to withdraw their name from the ballot.  Hochul immediately signed the bill into law, which also allows Democrats to name a new candidate for lieutenant governor.  The previous Lieutenant Governor, Brian Benjamin, who also had been appointed by Hochul, had recently been indicted on five federal criminal charges.

Assembly Minority leader Will Barclay said of this appointment, “Just yesterday, Assembly Democrats rejected a Republican proposal to require a majority vote of the Legislature to fill a vacancy for lieutenant governor – the same process necessary to fill vacancies for state Comptroller and Attorney General, and similar to the Congressional procedure to fill a vacancy for Vice President…”

“Rep. Delgado will now hold the second-highest office in New York without being elected to the position or requiring any approval from the Legislature.”

Concerning the 2^nd Amendment and law enforcement, On the Issues reports:

Delgado supports the survey question, 'Guns: Do you generally support gun-control legislation?' 

Delgado co-sponsored George Floyd Justice in Policing Act which addressed policing practices and law enforcement accountability.  Specifically, it limited qualified immunity as a defense to liability in a private civil action against a law enforcement officer.

Delgado’s own web site contains the following two reports on Delgado’s approach to the 2^nd Amendment:

On, March 11, 2021: “Today, U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado (NY-19) voted to pass the Bipartisan Background Checks Act and the Enhanced Background Checks Act.”

SCOPE Note: The Bipartisan Background Checks Act would require a background check for almost every gun sale or transfer.  The Enhanced Background Checks Act would address the so-called "Charleston Loophole," which currently allows the sale of a firearm to proceed if a background check is not completed within three business days.

Delgado was quoted as saying, "Gun violence is a public health and safety crisis that has plagued our communities for far too long…" 

On September 11, 2019: “U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado blasted Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for his steadfast refusal to allow any gun-control measures to the Senate floor.”

“He also accused President Donald Trump of caving to the gun lobby on background checks.”

"’It's naked corruption,’ the freshman congressman said…”.

"This feels like money and special interests and gun companies being able to dictate to Mitch McConnell how to proceed."

The names may change but the policies in Albany won’t change without real change with the November election.

SCOPE‘s Members’ Meeting

On April 30^th, 100 attendees at SCOPE’s annual Members’ Meeting in Geneva had the chance to hear speeches from seven political office candidates.  Governor candidate, Lee Zeldin, New York Attorney General candidate Mike Henry and 25^thCongressional District candidate La’Ron Singletary were the featured speakers and, in addition, conducted question and answer sessions.  Also, there were short presentations from U.S. Senator candidate Diane Sare, 22^ndCongressional District candidate Mike Sigler, 131^st New York District Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan and 130^th New York District Assemblyman Brian Manktelow. 

In several ways, all seven candidates expressed support for the 2nd Amendment and defending civilian gun ownership. 

As a long-time police officer and former Rochester Police Chief, La’Ron Singletary had the most first-hand experience with the effects of the anti-2^nd Amendment movements and highlighted several negative results from it.  He was especially critical of the “Defund the Police” movement and its negative effect on minority communities.  Singletary also expressed his admiration for Governor DeSantis work on the Covid epidemic.  He also said he was pro-life and that late term abortion was “unthinkable”.  Singletary wants to return “checks and balances” to D.C.   

Attorney General candidate Mike Henry blasted current Attorney General Letitia James as a grandstander who did not believe in law enforcement.  He said law abiding citizens with guns are not the problem.  Henry came firmly down against bail reform and letting non-citizens vote as the latter would diminish the votes of citizens.  He believes that crime is the biggest problem facing New Yorkers and that opening the southern border to fentanyl traffickers will make it worse. Mike added that he would work with I.C.E. on immigration.  Henry covered a number of topics in two question and answer sessions. 

Lee Zeldin was a last minute drop in to the meeting and he covered a variety of topics.  He condemned gun free zones as they are targets for criminals and criticized the use of emotional responses to tragedies for political purposes.  He promised to fire District Attorneys who do not enforce the law, in particular, Manhattan’s Alvin Bragg, and also to repeal the so-called “Bail Reform”.  Zeldin condemned the fear mongering against hydro-fracking.  He is in favor of voter ID.

Four candidates were recognized from the audience and they each spoke briefly.  All four expressed their support for the 2^nd Amendment in their comments.  The four candidates were:

• Diane Sare is an independent candidate for U.S. Senator to run against Chuck Schumer.  She must get 45,000 voters’ signatures to get on the November ballot.

• Mike Sigler is a Republican candidate in a new 22^nd Congressional District. He will face an opponent in a Republican primary.  There are multiple Democrat candidates in their primary.

• Jeff Gallahan and Brian Manktelow are both sitting New York Assemblymen seeking reelection on the Republican ticket. They have to deal with newly redrawn districts but they are not impacted by the current court case on redistricting.  Manktelow’s new district includes Wayne, Cayuga and Oswego Counties.  Gallahan’s new district includes Yates and Seneca Counties.

Various candidates warned about the disastrous one-party rule in New York and the need for voter turnout in November, in order to change that.  As an example of the dangers one-party ruling in its own interests and not the interests of the people of New York, they pointed out the New York Senate and Congressional maps that were so partisan that they were overturned by the courts.

The current court case, which threw out the redistricting map signed by Kathy Hochul, will impact Singletary and Sigler as they will not know what counties are in their districts until the courts decide on a newly redrawn map. Sigler’s district was slated to include parts of Tompkins, Cortland, Cayuga, Seneca, Madison and Onondaga County.  Singletary’s district was slated to include Monroe County and a bit of Ontario County.

A presentation was made by Jack Prendergast and Jim Tuttle about the SCOPE annual banquet that will be held at Batavia Downs on September 17^th.

SCOPE had invited Singletary’s and Henry’s likely Democrat opponents to also be featured speakers but they did not respond.  Only two days earlier, Zeldin had asked to drop in.

Redistricting  by Tom Reynolds

On Wednesday, the NY Court of Appeals rejected the NY State redistricting maps for Congress and for the NY Senate!

This is the top appeals court in NY State.  

The maps drawn by the Democrat controlled legislature (and rejected by the court) would have made it very difficult for most Republicans to win, except for a very few districts.  

Things are going to be interesting and confusing.  Primaries are up-in-the-air and might end up being on multiple dates for various offices.  For instance: statewide races, such as governor and US Senator, are unaffected by this ruling but Congress and State Senate are affected. It also confuses the candidates as they won't know, now, what district they will be running in.

For more information try this link.

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/watertown/ny-state-of-politics/2022/04/27/court-of-appeals-rejects-lawmaker-drawn-redistricting-maps

Hypocrisy Supports the Radical Left  by Tom Reynolds

Should a home-made pie be called a “Ghost Pie”?  But if you make a home-made gun, the result, according to Joe Biden and the anti-gun left, is a “Ghost Gun”.  Shouldn’t it more properly be called a “Home-made gun”?

Per the FBI, knives are used 4 to 7 times more often in homicides than all kinds of rifles.  And yet, Biden and the anti-gun left don’t use the term “Assault knife” but they do use the term “Assault Rifle”.

More people are killed in auto accidents than by all types of firearms, but Biden and the anti-gun left never use the term “Ford violence” or “Auto violence”.  But “Gun Violence” is never far from their lips.

Biden and the “Green radical left” refer to “Global Warming” and “Global Climate Change” as a reason for shutting down the fossil fuel industry.  Then, Biden begged Saudi Arabia and other countries to increase their exports of oil to the USA.  Isn’t Saudi Arabia still on the globe? 

Per the FBI, in 2019,

246 black races were murdered by white races 

2,574 black races were murdered by black races. 

2,594 white races were murdered by white races

566 white races were murdered by black races.

And yet, Biden and the radical left want to divide Americans with constant charges of racism.   

The Biden administration said you couldn’t fly on an airplane without a mask, to prevent the spread of Covid.  But illegal aliens are allowed to illegally enter the USA bringing, with them, a host of diseases.

The Biden administration talks about an opioid epidemic but illegal immigrants can cross easily into the USA from Mexico, with the aid of Mexican drug cartels.

The left loves to refer to gun “control” but what they really mean is “people control”.

And in the height of hypocrisy, the party of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez uses the term “common sense” when referring to their gun control proposals.  I repeat, it is the party of AOC defining “common sense”.

7 or 10 rounds in a magazine are variously called “high-capacity magazines”.  Does 7 items in a shopping cart make it a “high-capacity cart”?  Is pizza containing more than 7 pieces a “high-capacity pizza”?  On the other hand, if you ate 7 slices of pizza that is definitely “high-capacity”.

And speaking of so-called “ghost guns”…

The ATF has declared war on “homemade guns”.  Per Ammoland, this attack on unfinished frames and receivers was largely based on the work of former Special Agent in Charge of the Los Angeles Field Division, Carlos A. Canino.  He told anti-2A, Bloomberg funded, web site The Trace that 41% of all firearms recovered were “ghost guns.”

Really? Is that statistic true?

Ammoland further reports that ATF Spokesperson, Erik Longnecker, stated that the ATF’s Los Angeles Field Division could not verify Canino’s claim.  But Longnecker obscured the issue by stating that the ATF does not label any firearm as a ‘ghost gun,’ but prefers to use the term ‘privately made firearm’.

Longnecker was asked if Canino and the ATF were combining homemade firearms with factory-made guns that have had their serial numbers “privately altered or obliterated”?   Longnecker gave a long response which avoided answering the question.  “ATF investigates the criminal possession and other criminal misuse of both commercially manufactured and privately made firearms. These privately made firearms can be made from multiple sources and frequently lack serial numbers and other markings which generally make the firearms more difficult to trace…ATF also investigates the criminal possession and other criminal misuse of firearms that have had serial numbers altered or obliterated”. 

The Left wants to control the language of the debate.  Don’t fall into that trap.  It uses emotions and not facts and knows how to obliterate the truth like serial numbers on a “ghost gun”.