Statement from Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt

After hours of delays, Governor Hochul’s “extraordinary” session finally convened to make New Yorkers less safe and less free, with no accountability and no transparency.

Instead of addressing the root of the problem and holding violent criminals accountable, Albany politicians are preventing law-abiding New Yorkers, who have undergone permit classes, background checks, and a licensing process from exercising their constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Senate Democrats even rejected an amendment to increase penalties on individuals who commit crimes with illegal firearms while attacking the rights of legal gun owners.

The Governor and her allies can claim all they want that this was an “extraordinary” session, but New Yorkers know the truth: the only thing “extraordinary” is Albany’s never ending failure to restore public safety or make our state more affordable. 

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