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

Routinely when gun banners roll out their many attacks on the Second Amendment, they attempt to allay our concerns, by telling us they’re pro-Second Amendment, and they have no intention on negatively impacting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. Amazingly they do this with a straight face and then proceed to undermine the rights of law-abiding citizens to the delight of the criminal class. This deception is an unintended acknowledgment that they understand the Second Amendment is a right that most Americans believe in and support.

Make no mistake though, gun control is intended to disarm law-abiding citizens with the goal of a Utopian society without guns. Governor Cuomo has boasted on numerous occasions that New York has the nation’s toughest gun laws and it’s difficult to disagree with him. However, how do those laws impact criminals, law-abiding citizens and ultimately crime? For example, registration schemes, renewable licenses, bans on guns, magazines or other firearm components, only impact law-abiding citizens and have little to no impact on criminals. I can guarantee you would be hard pressed to find a criminal who’s concerned with the New York State Sullivan Act or the SAFE Act. Most street crime is tied to the drug trade and committed by gangs and thugs who possess firearms illegally. Criminals don’t have pistol licenses, so how does a renewable license reduce crime?

There’s a long list, but two of the most ridiculous examples of gun control that puts the public at greater risk are magazine bans and gun free zones. Take magazine restrictions that mandate how many rounds you can carry in a magazine. Can anyone, especially the governor find me a thug who is going to obey that law? Of course not. All this law does is place the law-abiding citizen at a tactical disadvantage. The same goes for gun free zones. If you know someone out there who supports laws like these please ask them to explain how these laws will keep us safer. Gun control is government negligence in action. We have a government in Albany that is legislating on the side of the criminal.

This brings us to a question for lawmakers and the governor. Given that violent crime is at an all-time low, and we already have the toughest gun laws in the nation, why are the governor and his allies in the legislature telling us we need more? The answer isn’t really about gun control — gun control is the means to “people control.” It’s been clear the Democrat party is going hard left and is clearly becoming an extremist left wing socialist party. This is not the Democrat party of our fathers and grandfathers.

Imagine a Democrat saying this today, “Certainly one of the chief guarantees of freedom under any government, no matter how popular and respected, is the right of citizens to keep and bear arms. This is not to say that firearms should not be very carefully used and that definite safety rules of precaution should not be taught and enforced. But the right of citizens to bear arms is just one more guarantee against arbitrary government, one more safeguard against the tyranny which now appears remote in America, but which historically has proved to be always possible.” This quote isn’t from some Second Amendment activist or organization, it’s from Democrat Hubert Humphrey, his party’s 1968 presidential nominee. Oh, how things have changed.

New York State Senator from Brooklyn, Kevin Parker, has proposed legislation that would require gun owners forfeit several of their constitutional rights, for as he would put it the privilege to possess a firearm. Senator Parker wants you to surrender your social media passwords and review your online history and to determine your fitness to purchase or possess a firearm. Ironically, Senator Parker has an extensive history of violent criminal conduct, including attacks on women, adding to his rap sheet Senator Parker recently told a Republican female staffer to "kill herself."

It’s striking the quality of individuals we have representing us in Albany and it’s ironic that someone with such a violent history wants to regulate our Second Amendment rights. Since Senator Parker thinks law-abiding New Yorkers should give up their rights to privacy, free speech, and due process to exercise their Second Amendment rights, we would like to know if the Senator possesses any rifles, shotguns or firearms and if he thinks he's entitled to possess any rifles, shotguns or firearms, given his criminal history? What say you, Senator Parker? As a public servant, who is willing to strip us of our constitutional rights you owe us an answer to these questions. Call and ask Senator Parker if he will answer these questions, 518-455- 2580, email, parker@nysenate.gov.

Given Senator Parker's criminal history and his propensity for violence is he even suitable to hold public office? That is a question to ask Senator Majority Leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins, her contact information is 518-455-2585, email: scousins@nysenate.gov.

Finally, one last thought, when it comes to the quality of our representation in Albany. The Republican party also has its share of shameful incompetence. Despite most of the Senate Republican conference coming from upstate, the Senate Republicans elected Long Island Senator John Flanagan as their minority leader. Flanagan who voted for the SAFE Act led Republicans as majority leader to their disastrous defeat last November. Another interesting fact regarding Flanagan, following his election as minority leader he entered for the second time an alcohol substance abuse program. We wish Senator Flanagan the best regarding his treatment, but one must question the wisdom and judgment of the GOP senators who supported his election as minority leader.

Another issue facing the GOP is the future of state party Chairman Ed Cox. The only thing the GOP has consistently accomplished since he became chairman in 2009 is to lose elections. If the GOP is ever going to be relevant again it must begin with showing the likes of Cox and Flanagan the door. One way to make this happen is for gun owners who happen to be Republican to get involved in their party. If you haven’t already, contact your GOP headquarters find out when they have their meetings and get involved.