OPPOSING THE NY SAFE ACT

Thomas F. O'Mara

March 1, 2013

State Senator Tom O’Mara (R-C, Big Flats), who was one of 18 state senators who voted against the recently enacted NY SAFE Act, addresses the February 28th opposition rally in Albany – one of the largest-ever rallies of its kind at the capital.

More than 5,000 opponents of the SAFE Act, including many from across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, traveled to the Albany to participate in the daylong protest.

Senator O’Mara said:

“I stand with many citizens and local leaders from across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions in opposition to the NY SAFE Act.  Equally important, we’re opposed to the shoddy legislative process that produced a law that’s full of failings and shortcomings, and places even more state-imposed burdens on already hard-pressed upstate citizens and localities.

“We understand that the odds are more than long that Governor Cuomo will suddenly reverse course and agree to repeal it on his own.  But this protest is going to have a lasting impact.  The SAFE Act is now the vehicle giving voice to the importance of the Second Amendment, but also to long-simmering frustrations and anger at a state government largely controlled by downstate, urban-oriented, liberal powers-that-be who couldn’t care less about upstate New York’s economic decline, upstate’s tax burden, our traditions and values, or our way of life.”  

Senator O’Mara is also co-sponsoring legislation introduced in the Senate this week, being called the “Second Amendment Protection Act” (Senate Bill Number 3948), to try to repeal the new gun control law.