Governor's Budget Proposal Finally Addresses Gun Control Law's Impact on Adirondack Park Residents and Visitors

            As Senator Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury) looks through the particulars of Governor Hochul’s 2023-24 Executive Budget proposal, he’s pleased to see the plan finally addresses several parts of the negative impact last year’s gun control laws had on gun owners and visitors to the Adirondack Park. In the Public Protection and General Government Article VII Bill, state lands in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks, athletic competitions and historic re-enactments would all be exempted from the controversial gun control measures.

            Despite numerous statements from the governor’s office and Democrat leaders last year that Adirondack Park gun owners, visiting athletes and historic re-enactors were already exempted from the law, Stec and several other Second Amendment stakeholders pointed out the law clearly stated otherwise. To address the issue, Stec sponsored legislation exempting the Adirondack Park and in several different venues pointed out the inconsistencies between written law and verbal statements issued by those decrying the concerns of gun owners. He sees the governor including these provisions in her budget proposal as welcome news for our region.

             “Last year’s gun control laws were rushed and flawed, and left people in the Adirondack Park exposed to potential criminal violations for merely exercising their Second Amendment right,” said Stec. “I’m glad to see that the governor realized this major problem and included language in her budget that matched my proposal to exempt the Adirondack Park from the new gun control laws.

            “I hope my colleagues in the Senate and Assembly show the same common sense to protecting our Second Amendment right and keep this language in their respective state budgets,” he added. “While I have many concerns surrounding the size and scope of Governor Hochul’s proposal that I’ll outline in the days ahead, this is a welcome development.”