Seward Helps Secure First Changes To NY-SAFE Act

ONEONTA, 07/10/15 – State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I- Oneonta) today announced that the senate Republican majority has secured a legally binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the governor’s office amending provisions of the NY-SAFE Act.

“This is a clear victory for Second Amendment rights in New York,” said Senator Seward.  “While I will continue to work for full repeal of the poorly crafted, over-reaching NY-SAFE Act, this is a significant accomplishment – and constitutes the only modifications that have been made to this law since it was enacted two years ago over my objection.”

The MOU signed by New York State Director of Operations James Malatras and Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan suspends a portion of the NY-SAFE Act establishing a statewide database requiring purchasers of ammunition to undergo a background check.  

“The plan to establish a statewide ammunition database has been fraught with problems since it was first conceived, not to mention it infringes on the rights of lawful firearm owners.  I successfully helped shut off funding that was being wasted on trying to establish this database and am extremely pleased that the entire idea will now be abandoned,” Seward added.

Along with leading the effort to repeal the NY-SAFE Act, Senator Seward has also blocked other gun control measures advanced by the state assembly and senate Democrats such as microstamping, mandatory liability insurance for firearm owners, and a ban on .50 caliber firearms, which would include many hunting calibers.

Earlier this year legislation (S.5837) sponsored by Senator Seward, amending several of the most onerous sections of the NY-SAFE Act, received senate approval.  This was the first time any bill amending the NY-SAFE Act was acted upon by the legislature.  The state assembly failed to even bring the bill forward for a vote.

“The state senate took the lead and passed legislation that would erase some of the most burdensome provisions of the NY-SAFE Act while also keeping other gun control laws at bay.  While the state assembly failed to join us, the senate Republican majority continued to work to restore Second Amendment rights to lawful firearm owners,”  Seward concluded.

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