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

     The New York State Senate and Assembly passed legislation (A.2686A and S.2450A) requiring the mandatory storage of firearms, rifles, and shotguns. While the legislation may seem reasonable on the surface, as is often the case with legislation passed with little public input it will do little to protect the most vulnerable. Additionally, the legislation will negatively impact parents and organizations who wish to enjoy the shooting sports with young people.

     Accidents involving firearms with young people are at an all-time low. When accidents do occur it’s likely to be in a home where the firearm is possessed illegally. Thus, the adult perpetrator is not likely to be swayed by a mandatory storage law. Think about it in these terms — if you’re someone who doesn’t consider the safety of your children enough of a reason to practice responsible gun ownership, how in the world is some law passed by Albany politicians going to make a difference? The fact is, “law-abiding gun owners” are some of the safest people on the planet. 

     A better way to address firearm safety, especially for kids who live in less than desirable circumstances, would be to offer training to those children in schools on what to do if they encounter a firearm. If the goal is to protect children award-winning programs like the NRA’s Eddie Eagle program, with the fundamental message of, “Stop, Don’t Touch, Tell An Adult,” would accomplish more than a mandatory storage law that criminals or irresponsible adults would simply ignore.

     Another problem with this legislation is that it provides an exception for a person under the age of 16 who is the holder of a hunting license. That begs the question: what about parents or organizations that want to enjoy the shooting sports with children that don’t require a hunting license? Will Boy Scouts and other youth shooting sports be prohibited with this law? Or how about a parent who wants to teach their child to shoot, because those sports don’t require a hunting license? Will someone under 16 be prohibited from all recreational shooting?

     Finally, in 2008, the Supreme Court ruled in D.C. v. Heller that mandating a firearm be made inoperable for immediate self-defense is unconstitutional.

     Whether intended or not, this is another in a series of attacks on law-abiding gun owners. Thousands more children perish each year from drowning, suffocation or motor vehicle accidents than from accidents involving firearms. We’re in the middle of an opioid epidemic where thousands of New York’s children are dying at an alarming rate. This legislation has more to do with politics than saving children.

     We have contacted the governor’s office to urge him not to sign this legislation. He’s often said he’s not trying to take away the rights of law-abiding gun owners, here’s a chance for him to prove it.

     I’m not saying anything you already don’t know when I say we have a very difficult fight in New York State. We can probably claim the mantle as the most anti-gun state in the union. It’s easy for some of us topoint fingers and to cast blame. What’s S.C.O.P.E. doing? What about the NRA and the other gun groups in New York? However, one must remember we’re only as strong as the gun owners who support us. The more engaged the gun owning public is the stronger the pro-Second Amendment groups will be.

     I recently read a comment on social media where a gun owner commented that until he sees positive results, he refuses to join any pro-2A group in New York. Think about that one, his attitude is exactly why we’re losing the battle. How can we win the fight with people walking away? I realize that most of you are the choir and you understand the need to be involved but you are a minority. Only a very small fraction of New York’s gun owners are members of any Second Amendment civil rights group.

     We must grow our numbers. Gone are the days when politicians just wanted to ban semi-automatic rifles. With the unSAFE Act, red flag, and mandatory storage laws every gun owner is a target. Trap shooters, skeet shooters, sporting clays, hunters just to name a few. You’re as much a target as the guy with the AR15 or the AK47. Every person in New York is now one angry neighbor away from having his or her firearms confiscated.

     The only way to turn this state around is with every gun owner joining the fight. This is not the time to walk away. This is the time to join the fight!

     This will be my last column as S.C.O.P.E.’s president. My term is up effective April 27, 2019 when we have our board and members’ meetings and I will not be seeking reelection. I will, however, stay on as a director and support our new leadership and continue the fight for our Second Amendment rights here in New York. Let’s all keep up the fight by asking others to join us.