O'Mara continues to co-sponsor legislation to repeal NY SAFE Act ~ On two-year anniversary of bill's signing, local opposition remains strong

Elmira, N.Y., January 15—State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C-Big Flats) today announced that he is continuing to co-sponsor legislation in the Senate to repeal the NY SAFE Act, which was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo two years ago today, on January 15, 2013.

O’Mara was one of 18 state senators who voted against the SAFE Act two years ago.

Read more in the Star-Gazette, "Sen. O'Mara pushes for SAFE Act repeal"

“Local, grassroots opposition to the SAFE Act remains as strong as ever, and I continue to stand with many citizens and local leaders from across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions in calling for its repeal,” said O’Mara. “I’m a lifelong sportsman and a strong defender of the Second Amendment.  We understand that the odds are more than long that Governor Cuomo or the downstate, Assembly Democratic leadership would ever suddenly reverse course and agree to repeal it. But this opposition is having a lasting impact.  The SAFE Act remains the vehicle giving voice to the importance of the Second Amendment, but also to long-simmering frustrations with a state government that, in too many ways, couldn’t care less about Upstate New York’s economic decline, Upstate job losses, or Upstate’s tax burden. The NY SAFE Act goes too far to infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding, responsible citizens throughout my legislative district and statewide.”  

The legislation (S.511) O’Mara co-sponsors would repeal the SAFE Act (Chapter 1 of the Laws of 2013), except for the provision mandating a prison sentence of life without parole for the murder of emergency personnel, which was included in the measure in response to the December 2012 tragedy in Webster, New York in which a gunman ambushed and killed two firefighters.  

The newly reintroduced SAFE Act repeal legislation is sponsored by Finger Lakes Senator Michael F. Nozzolio (R-Seneca Falls).  

It’s been referred to the Senate Codes Committee.