By Tim Andrews, S.C.O.P.E. President

The 2018 elections are over and are an unmitigated disaster for gun owners, and frankly in my opinion, for New Yorkers in general. We’ve become a one-party state. Cuomo and his fellow Democrats undoubtedly feel they have a mandate to unleash their progressive agenda, including more gun control.

Following the election, Cuomo said, “We already have the strongest gun safety laws in the nation, and in the upcoming legislative session we will take additional steps to make our laws even stronger to keep our communities safe.” At the time of this writing, it looks as though Democrats will control the state Senate by a 40 – 23 majority, and that goes with the 2 to 1 majority Democrats already maintain in the state assembly.

Folks, I’m not going to try and soft pedal this, the Second Amendment is in serious jeopardy here in New York. Come January we are looking at the loss of more due process, with the governor’s Red Flag law, (Extreme Risk Protection Order law), along with much more. Let me put it this way, the sky may be the limit for Cuomo’s gun control agenda.

The governor’s comments came in a response to the recent nightclub shooting in California. Now ask yourself: Why would that shooting have anything to do with New York? On numerous occasions, Cuomo has boasted New York has the best gun laws in the country. If that’s so, why the necessity to pass more? Especially if the impetus is an incident that occurred in another state and not here. I would contend the governor’s comments and his agenda are proof this isn’t about gun safety laws as they like to call it, it’s about an all-out attack on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding New Yorkers.

So, what is there for us to do? Some will probably join the droves that have already done so and leave the state. If you are considering that alternative, I hope you choose to stay because if you go our job gets harder. It seems bleak but it’s not hopeless. The courts, especially on the federal level, thanks to President Trump have become much friendlier. We’ve already begun planning an agenda using the courts as our battleground. We still believe the unSAFE Act is unconstitutional as well as the Red Flag proposal the governor plans on passing in January.

We’re Americans, we don’t quit, we don’t give up, we have one big advantage and that is we are on the side of the Constitution. We can, and we will win this fight if we keep fighting. I know how frustrated we all are. I’m just as frustrated as anyone but whatever you do don’t give up.

I’ve never enjoyed asking for money as I know how hard you all work and how expensive it is to live in New York. However, as you surely know legal action and lawyers are expensive, costs can easily reach the tens of thousands, we need your help to fund our expanding legal agenda. I’m asking you to dig down and donate to our legal defense fund, please give as much as you can and as often as you can. You can donate through our website using your credit card, www.SCOPEny.org or you can mail your contributions to SCOPE, PO Box 165, East Aurora, NY 14052. Your support is greatly needed and appreciated.