A recent item on our WCS "Articles" page includes an interview of recently reelected Congressman John Katko (R-NY). He talks about his experiences growing up with firearms.  In addition, he was asked the question:  Which piece of pending legislation related to the firearm industry is particularly important to you and why?

His answer is critical to anyone who holds a NY State pistol permit.  It is far past time that we be allowed to carry concealed when we travel out of New York.  Regardless of purpose, and whether the travel takes us into one or more states, the congressman is correct when he stated that:

"Congress must continue working to provide certainty to law-abiding firearm owners and ensure the fair recognition of concealed carry permits across the country." 

"Since coming to Congress, I have consistently heard from sports enthusiasts and firearm owners in Central New York about the patchwork of laws they have to navigate when traveling across state lines. With this in mind, I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to advance the bipartisan Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38). Congress must continue working to provide certainty to law-abiding firearm owners and ensure the fair recognition of concealed carry permits across the country."

Katko received 27,436 votes in Wayne County alone.  It is now time for those who supported him [and all other gun owners] to contact his office and express their support for H.R. 38.  Here is his contact information:

Phone: (202) 225-3701. You may need to leave a message. Below is a short example:  (First identify yourself with name, address and phone # ).

I'm calling to express my support for  the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, House bill H.R. 38. Please seek bipartisan support for its passage.

Email:  (Go to the website below, supply your personal information, check whether you want a reply and send a message similar to this): 

I support the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act, House bill H.R. 38.  Please seek bipartisan support for its passage. 

 https://katko.house.gov/contact/email

 

       

• Member Joe Edwards reported on his efforts to develop local teams to compete in the NYS High School Clay Target Leagues.  Those interested in volunteering to coach participants should access the NYS website to become certified. Certification can be gained through an on-line course.  Members can also contact Joe to volunteer with local teams’ practice sessions. Our goal is to create a team in each Wayne County school district. 
• Vice Chairman Laura Sepka discussed the need for upcoming fundraisers in order to support youth shooting teams and to prepare for critical elections in 2022.  We are considering selling facemasks from a local source.  Gun raffles were also proposed by members. 
  
• Supervisor Ken Miller reported on the three candidates for the position of Wayne County Sheriff.  All three have had careers in law enforcement and are well regarded.  
• The 3 candidates will attend our January 13 WCS meeting at the Marion Legion. They will each speak individually followed by a Q & A session. 
• Ken explained that per Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order 203, local government leaders are required to establish a local “Police Reform and Re-Invention Committee”. Volunteers from each Wayne County town are being sought to serve on this committee. Anyone interested should contact Ken at his Town of Palmyra office [315.597.2324].  I was asked to serve on the committee as a representative of Wayne County SCOPE.
• There will be an open session for public input on the topic on November 18 @ 7 pm at the Lyons County Courthouse.The Executive Order is at  https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/EO_203.pdf
• County Clerk Mike Jankowski reminded everyone that the positions of Sheriff, Judge, and County Clerk continue to hold considerable discretionary authority making it very important that voters and gun owners in particular pay attention to local election processes. 
• On behalf of himself, Senator Pam Helming, and Congressman John Katko, Assemblyman Brian Manktelow thanked members of the chapter for their support in the recent election. He reported that Republicans retained seats in both the state Assembly and Senate and may pick up a few more as the elections are certified.  Voter resistance to issues of bail reform and defunding the police appeared to be significant factors in the election outcome.
• Guest speaker and local Viet Nam veteran Pat Skelly talked about his experiences as a young combat soldier. He stressed the value of honoring and supporting veterans and those who care for their injuries. He urged members to value and defend those who fight beside them. Mike Fonte also noted the service of families and loved ones to the mission of the veterans.    
• Following the 50/50 raffle, a video honoring the service of the American soldier was shown.  
• The next meeting is scheduled for January 13 @ 7 pm at the Marion American Legion at 4141 Witherden Rd in Marion.  The candidates for Wayne County Sheriff in next year’s election will each make a presentation followed by an opportunity for you to ask questions. 
• Reminder:  There is NO meeting in December.

Don

Wayne County SCOPE Members Meeting

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

HONOR OUR VETERANS

This month’s members meeting of Wayne County SCOPE is  Wednesday, November 11 @ 7 pm in the Marion American Legion Post located at 4141 Witherden Rd. Marion, NY 14505. Topics of discussion include: Election results at all levels. Direction of SCOPE following the elections. Coping with COVID-19 moving forward. Fundraising in advance of 2022 NY State elections. "PACK the PAC!" Overview of new SCOPE website by Dave Colburn  Website Q & A  Joe Edwards on youth trap shooting teams from Wayne County schools. “THOSE WHO WOULD GIVE UP ESSENTIAL LIBERTY, TO PURCHASE A LITTLE TEMPORARY SAFETY,             DESERVE NEITHER LIBERTY NOR SAFETY.”             — BENJAMIN FRANKLIN (1706-1790)

This message was sent to members from SCOPE President Tom Reynolds:

"There are many gun owners in New York (perhaps millions) who do not believe that Cuomo and company are coming for their weapons and, thus, there is no need to vote.  Well, guess what? There is now evidence that Cuomo and company are going after all guns!

Bills that were introduced in both the New York State Senate (S7065) and the Assembly (A01589-A) will require that before any sale, exchange or disposal of a firearm, rifle or shotgun, the purchaser must pass a mental health examination.  No exemption for hunters.  No exemption for target shooting.  No exemption for self-defense. No exemption for…anything."

The state senate now has a 'companion' bill to one that has sat in the assembly for months.  This brings the total of "2-House" anti-gun bills to 9 in 2020.  Seven were passed into law in 2019.

The passage of the nine 2020 bills would bring the total to 16 in only two years.  The days of the state senate protecting gun owners is over.   Bills like these would have 'died' in Committee 2 years ago just as many did since passage of the so-called SAFE Act in 2013.  

Cuomo and his gun control allies in Albany do not need another Unsafe act.  They merely need to roll along, year after year, with new intrusive and unconstitutional gun laws.  When will we put a halt to this?  It will only happen when gun owners to get off the couch on November 3 and VOTE.

Choose candidates rated by SCOPE regardless of their party affiliation. You can find these ratings of federal and state candidates on the Home page of the state website:  scopeny2a.org.  

Encourage fellow gun owners to vote for gun friendly candidates. 

 

This month’s members meeting of Wayne County SCOPE is this coming Wednesday, October 14 @ 7 pm in the Marion American Legion Post located at 4141 Witherden Rd. Marion, NY 14505.

• Topics of discussion include:

• ·      An update on state and federal legislation affecting our gun rights.
• ·      Key points behind the Democrat’s platform on guns. 
• ·      The use of filibusters and the threat to abolish them. How might this affect you?
• ·      How SCOPE has impacted this year’s elections including:
• o   Ratings of legislators.
• o   Donations to legislators.
• ·      Your individual donations can still impact the election.
• ·      How can you promote voting amongst gun owners?
• ·      Last minute General Election info.

This year’s election is more critical to our cause than any in the recent past. There is still time to impact the outcome. This meeting will help you learn the roles we need to play before Nov. 3.

Three candidates for office accepted our invitation to attend our September 9 meeting and present their platforms in advance of the NOVEMBER 3rd ELECTION DAY. 

State Senator Pam Helming, State Assemblyman Brian Manktelow and Congressman John Katko were in attendance. Invited opponents did not attend the meeting. 

All 3 candidates are Republicans and offered substantial reasons for us to support them at the polls.  Each is a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment.  They have either sponsored or voted in favor of legislation protecting our liberties.  These include, in addition to the 2nd Amendment, the 4th, 5th, 6th and 14th Amendments. 

It is clear they all support our right to due process; right to protection from government confiscation of our personal property; right to knowledge of our accuser(s); right to represent an accuser in a court of law with the assumption being that we are innocent until proven guilty.

It may be easy for us to focus on the 2nd Amendment and overlook the importance of these latter four Amendments. Yet the State has thrown many law-abiding Gun owners ‘under the bus’ by violating these fundamental civil and Constitutional rights.  The passage of a so-called “Red Flag” law in 2019 was only the beginning of yet another round of intrusive gun control laws.  Many nationwide examples have proven this type of law, sometimes known as an Extreme Risk Protection Ordinance (ERPO)to be a violation of our liberties.  Why?  Consider:

1.     Judges can issue an ERPO - formerly known as the unconstitutional GRVO or Gun Violence Restraining Order — without any testimony from the accused. In other words, the accused is denied his or her Sixth Amendment protected rights.  The person served the order will lose their Second Amendment right to own or even possess a firearm.  All firearms will be confiscated.

2.     The Sixth Amendment provides that “in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right…to be confronted with the witnesses against him.” The Clause was intended to prevent the conviction of a defendant upon written evidence (such as depositions or ex parte affidavits) without that defendant having an opportunity to face his or her accusers and to put their honesty and truthfulness to test before a judge and/or jury.

3.     Who are these people filing for an ERPO? Mental health experts? No. They are family members, LEOs and judges. The list could grow to include present and former romantic partners.  People who could possibly act entirely out of hatred, anger and revenge.

We have 3 candidates who have told us they understand the importance of our Constitution and it’s guaranteed rights.  They also need financial support.  We, as independent voters, can provide that support outside of SCOPE’s nonprofit structure.  SCOPE, the corporate entity, cannot legally endorse a candidate.  However, it can rate them.  Then it is the individual member’s personal choice as to whether to financially support a candidate.  

We will provide you with the ratings of all three candidates mentioned above at our October 14 meeting as well as postal addresses if you wish to donate to their cause.  Bring your checkbooks.  

Don

We are facing many challenges to our God-given Constitutional and civil liberties. 

Legislation is being enacted by groups intent on restricting not only our Second Amendment rights but the 4th, 5th, 6th and 14th Amendments as well. 

‘Round one’ of our battle began in 2013 with the so-called “SAFE” Act. Seven new gun control laws in New York were passed in 2019. We have been warned about “SAFE Act 2” and must now face its reality if 8 new anti-gun bills in 2020 are passed into law. 

The “Red Flag” or ERPO passed last year in Albany was perhaps the most dangerous law. It has become a widely used instrument to take away someone’s constitutional rights with little or no due process. Now we may face it on the federal level too. 

Our opportunity to preserve our Constitutional rights depend upon our right to vote. This is the only right that cannot be legislated away. We must all exercise this right on November 3.  

Plan to attend our Wayne County meeting on September 9.  You will meet the candidates hoping to earn your votes on November 3.  We will pose questions and give you an opportunity to do the same. 

We gun owners can win any election if and only if we vote!  This is an obligation as well as a right. “Meet the Candidates Night” on Wednesday is step one to meeting that obligation. 

Wayne County Members SCOPE Meeting August 8, 2020 

All COVID recommendations were observed at the Marion Legion. The meeting was called to order at 7pm by the Vice Chairman. The secretary’s minutes were not available.  The treasurer reported a balance forward of $ 2531.61 as of July 31, 2020. 

The Chairman reported on the election of Tom Reynolds to the position of President of SCOPE and other state officers elected at the SBOD meeting held July 25. Tom Reynolds met with Tom King, President of NYSR&P and agreed that the upcoming elections in November should override all other issues. President Tom Reynolds also met with a state Senator to discuss upcoming elections.  

In light of recent national events, Pennsylvania counties have been overwhelmed by concealed carry permit requests.  In New Hampshire, Governor Chris Sununu has vetoed proposed “red flag” gun confiscation.  In New York, Attorney General Letitia James has brought suit against the NRA. 

The Supreme Court of the State of New York ruled in favor of a Rockland County petitioner. It overruled a judge’s decision that “enjoined the petitioner from applying for an unrestricted pistol permit for one year” concluding “…the licensing agent was without authority to bar the petitioner from reapplying for an unrestricted pistol permit for one year “.  (see "Briefings" on the Home page for more details)

It was announced that a “Candidates Night” will be held the evening of our September 9 meeting. Candidates from the two major parties will be invited to attend. The WCS Committee will question the candidates and rate each on a scale of A to F based upon their answers. The law prescribes that as a 501C4 nonprofit organization we are unable to endorse candidates but are allowed to rate them.   

NRA representative Scott Buisch reported on Letitia James’ recent efforts to target the NRA. No criminal charges have been brought against the organization and no Grand Jury has been convened despite the Attorney General’s allegations.  Mr. Buisch contends the intention, rather, is to embarrass the NRA as a political opponent and to dry up the NRA’s ability to financially support pro-Second Amendment candidates. The Chairman proposed a chapter donation of $300 to the NRA and it was passed by the members present.  

Dan Olsen reported on topics related to the upcoming November 3rd elections. He discussed Early Voting policies and procedures as outlined by the Wayne County Board of Elections.  

Assemblyman Brian Manktelow reported on the response he received to his recent mailer outlining his rejection of various anti-gun measures proposed in Albany. He noted that the Democrat majority appears single-mindedly opposed to Constitutional safeguards regarding gun ownership.  He recommended legal gun owners support like-minded candidates via letters to the Editor, campaign involvement, and voting.  Greater activism by conservative gun owners will be necessary to preserve gun rights in NY. 

County Clerk Mike Jankowski followed up with a discussion about gun permit numbers in Wayne County. Despite surges in other counties and states, new permit requests and addendums to permits have remained fairly consistent when compared with other years.  He reminded everyone about the importance of completing the 2020 census, since population density is used to draw political boundaries for local, state, and federal elections.  Federal funding for Medicare, education, transportation access, and business development is also determined by census data. 

Wayne County Supervisors’ Chair Ken Miller reported on county efforts to ensure necessary voting place decorum given the coronavirus pandemic. He reiterated Assemblyman Manktelow’s recommendation that members actively support candidates who advocate for gun rights and encourage gun owners to vote.  

Mike Jankowski won the 50-50 raffle and donated his winnings to the NRA. 

The meeting was closed at 8:15. 

NOTE: The next members meeting will be September 9 at 7 pm at the Marion Legion. Our "Candidates Night" will be the major portion of the agenda. This is your opportunity to meet several candidates running for elected office in November and listen to their answers to our questions and yours. We expect everyone who attends will leave better educated on gun rights and gun control issues. Join us and prepare yourself to vote intelligently on November 3rd. 

Wayne County SCOPE will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, August 12 @ 7 PM at the Marion American Legion.  Members are asked to wear masks and practice social distancing. The Legion will be open and also the bar. 

We look forward to feedback on proposed gun bills by our Assemblyman Brian Manktelow. 

Senator Pam Helming has also been invited to speak.  She is chairman of the senate committee seeking candidates to replace a number of retiring senators. 

Please plan to wear a mask while moving around the room or building.  No mask is needed while seated at your table.  A maximum of 4 per table is allowed in order to properly social distance. Your cooperation is appreciated by the Legion's leadership. 

Wayne County SCOPE will hold its next meeting on Wednesday, August 12@7 pm at the Marion American Legion.

We should have some feedback on proposed gun bills by our Assemblyman Brian Manktelow. 

Members are asked to wear masks and practice social distancing. Weather permitting, we may hold the meeting outdoors again.