By Tim Andrews, SCOPE President

To those of you who were unable to attend SCOPE’s members meeting on April 22nd, I’ll begin by introducing myself. My name is Tim Andrews and your Board of Directors elected me president of SCOPE at our April meeting.

Most of you probably don’t know me but I do have some history with SCOPE. I’ve been a SCOPE member for about thirty years and I’m currently an Endowment member. Beginning in the mid ‘90’s I was the Chairman of the Monroe County Chapter and later went on to become president for about five years into the early 2000’s.

You might be asking what brought me back after all these years? Well like many of you I was concerned with the level of infighting that was taking place within our organization. I contacted some folks in SCOPE leadership and offered my services to help resolve some of the differences. My intentions were to help mediate and I made it clear on several occasions I was not interested in an official position.

As time went on I learned that Tom Reynolds was not going to seek reelection as SCOPE president. At that time, some members asked me if I would consider running for president. I called Tom to confirm his intentions and I told him I would not consider running if he decided to seek another term. I’m grateful for Tom’s service to SCOPE; he served during a trying time and did a great job of guiding us through some difficult waters. We owe Tom a debt of gratitude.

So, I’m the new guy at least in some sense. I was not a party to the divisions of the past year and the past is behind us.

Allow me to share a few of the reasons I decided to once again serve as SCOPE’S president. I’ve always been a devout patriot. I love America and the freedoms we all share, especially the one freedom that guarantees all others, the Second Amendment. I’m a life member of several other pro-gun organizations, but in my view, there is no more effective defender of the Second Amendment in New York State than SCOPE. In the real sense of the word SCOPE is a true grass roots organization. We are the only pro-gun organization in New York with a local chapter structure that, forgive the phrase, gives us boots on the ground in every corner of New York State. You are more than a member you are part of our team, you are the lifeblood of SCOPE.

If you live in an area where there is a chapter I would urge you to get involved. Offer your voice, your input. Run for office in your chapter or next year consider throwing your hat in the ring for a state office. If there’s no chapter in your area consider starting one. SCOPE is your organization.

I understand how frustrating it is to be a gun owner in New York. We have all, probably at times, felt like throwing our hands in the air and saying what’s the use. I urge you don’t give up, giving up is the only way Cuomo and his cronies can win the ultimate fight. We have lost some battles but we have not lost the war. With the addition of Neil Gorsuch to the U.S. Supreme Court, our prospects of overturning unconstitutional laws like the (un)SAFE Act have greatly improved. We will continue our efforts in the courts.

The gun grabbers in the New York State Assembly do have a solid majority, however, we do have a tepid pro-gun majority in the Senate. With divided government in Albany it’s possible to move pro-gun legislation with some creative horse-trading between New York City Democrats and downstate pro-gun legislators. SCOPE is retooling our strategies to advance a pro-Second Amendment agenda in Albany.

More details will soon follow but I want to let you know that SCOPE is working on proposed legislation in the United States Congress to repeal unconstitutional state laws like the New York (un)SAFE Act. Our proposal would use the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment that provides a means for the Federal Government to repeal state laws that violate the constitutional rights of their citizens. Stay tune more will be forthcoming.

We are all aware of the anti gun bias that exists in today’s media. It’s a problem that President Trump experienced as well and he taught us how to overcome the lying and deceitful media. President Trump’s deft use of the internet and social media, allowed him to do an end run around the media and successfully delivered his message to voters. In the next few weeks you will see a new and improved SCOPE website as well as a presence on social media. An electronic presence gives us an opportunity to reach not only gun owners but non-gun owners as well. Opportunities to educate the public on law abiding gun ownership to correct the lies and deceptions that unsuspecting New Yorkers hear in the media almost every day.

SCOPE is reloading; we are fine-tuning our efforts in Albany and tightening our business model. You, our members are still and always will be the tip of the spear. SCOPE needs you! We need you involved, recruit a member, if each of us could recruit just one member we would double our membership. Talk to your family and friends, call your legislators and let them know you expect them to honor and defend all the constitution including the Second Amendment.

As always please contact your local chapter, any officer or me with any questions, concerns or suggestions you may have and I look forward to a successful future. Thank you for your continued support.