Genesee County Chapter

Article from The Batavian on July 9th
By Howard B. Owens

Borrello calls on gun owners to create grassroots movement to protect 2nd Amendment

Sen. George Borrello advocated for grassroots unity and active voter engagement as key ingredients for defending Second Amendment rights in New York during his address to Genesee County SCOPE on Tuesday at the Coon Hunters Association clubhouse on Hopkins Road in Batavia.

Borrello highlighted a recent legal victory against New York’s Department of Health over Rule 213, which he said would have allowed public health officials to detain individuals suspected of carrying communicable diseases without proof or due process. He emphasized that sustained community action was essential to overturning the rule.

He pointed to ongoing challenges, including what he described as incremental restrictions on gun ownership in New York State.

Borrello said, “When it comes to our Second Amendment rights, if they could just outlaw guns in New York State, they would, but they know that even for them, that’s a bridge too far, especially now with the Supreme Court the United States that we have, so instead, it’s death by a 1,000 cuts, right? They want to make it very difficult and very expensive for you to own a gun and to exercise your Second Amendment rights in New York State.”

Borrello called for a coordinated effort to register and mobilize gun owners and non-affiliated voters, noting that many remain unregistered.

“If we could get half of the gun owners in New York state who are not registered to vote and to vote the right way, we would have Lee Zeldin as governor,” he said.

Borrello concluded by urging attendees to remain engaged and to help identify key districts where potential Republican gains could be made. He stressed that the path forward depends on voter turnout and collective resolve.

“It has to be an effort on everyone’s part to get out and do it," Borrello said. "If you want to stop complaining about stuff, then start doing something about it. It’s about getting those people out, registering to vote and getting them to the polls. It can be done. It has been done in the past in the state. I’m not one of those guys who says, 'You know what? It’s hopeless. I’m leaving.' I don’t want to go to Florida. I love it here. My family’s here. My businesses are here. My wife and I have a restaurant business, and I want to stay here, and I want to fight to make New York what it used to be.

Genesee County SCOPE at the Northwoods Chicken BBQ

Kathryn S. at the Oakfield Labor Day Parade.