Perhaps not wanting to repeat the PR disaster that was the Colorado Sheriffs full-throated opposition to gun control bills in Colorado, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is reportedly seeking to squash the dissent coming from Sheriffs in the Empire State.
Reports the Albany Times-Union:
The sheriffs thought they were being summoned to the Capitol to discuss ideas for changes to New York’s gun control law, the SAFE Act. Instead, Gov. Andrew Cuomo told them to keep quiet.
Opposition to the new law has simmered in upstate areas since Cuomo signed the law in January. Many county sheriffs oppose it, particularly its expanded definition of banned assault weapons, and have spoken out around the state. In January, the New York State Sheriffs’ Association wrote Cuomo with an analysis, and later suggested tweaks.
Cuomo invited its leaders to the Capitol last month, people briefed on the meeting said. The group included Sheriffs’ Association Executive Director Peter Kehoe and Chemung County Sheriff Christopher Moss.
“We didn’t get a response (to the analysis) from him, but we could tell after the budget was passed that none of those recommendations were taken into consideration,” Moss said. “When we got there, we never got to the contents of the letter.”
Instead, Cuomo pushed the sheriffs to stop publicly speaking out against the act, Moss said.
“The governor was of the opinion that the sheriffs around the state should not be interjecting their personal opinions in reference to the law,” Moss said, adding that Cuomo said sheriffs can’t do that and enforce the law.
There are many similarities between Colorado and New York on the gun control issue. As in Colorado, the Sheriffs in New York are opposed to the gun control legislation that was rushed through the legislature with little public input.
And just like Colorado, the Sheriffs in New York are suing to overturn the legislation.
Back in March we noted the fact that Hickenlooper and Cuomo had become the unpopular face of gun control, something that our sources report riled Hickenlooper’s high command. The week prior Hick’s staff had orchestrated a press hit, with an indirect insult of Cuomo, seeking to distance Colorado’s governor from the chief executive of New York.
Unfortunately for both Cuomo and Hickenlooper, no matter how much the two rumored 2016 contenders try to define their own identities their gun control stances have attached them at the hip — the awkward congenital twins of gun grabbing.
What if there's a new sheriff in town?
Interesting. A cop that does not uphold the law. Where does that stop?
I will not comply with any unconstitutional law. I WILL NOT COMPLY DO U HEAR ME I WILL NOT COMPLY!
Cookmo is just another ignorant arrogant new york politician who thinks he is untouchable and that it is ok to strip even the Sheriff's 1st admendment rights now, new yorkers give him the boot
with your help Tim, he will be.
Tom,
I'm with you 100%. The fact that our cause is building momentum, gaining alliances is great news, I feel we need to continue to build alliances with the many groups in NYC which also scream for the cause , but there representatives don't work for them!
Doug
Knox NY
As an Upstate New Yorker and a Veteran I will not move away. I will fight for our rights here. Too many people associate NY with the city. 99% of upstate are gun totin' conservatives with good Christian values. Unfortunately, the city has the numbers to turn the state blue. We are just as "real" in upstate as the rest of the country. We will not become victims….we will stay and fight. Let some thug or criminal come to my front door or town…it won't be a happy ending for them. Be careful about the stereotypes….we are just as patriotic as you are.
all the Communist States like New jersey, New York, Kalifornia, Washington, Konnektikut , and Colorado will have all the Criminals too… let em keep up their bullshit…it makes the rest of us in the real United States much safer now that all the criminals, thugs and dopers will be flocking to the unarmed places.. fuck em..they will get what they deserve in the end…the smart ones will move away, the rest will become victims…
His overriding arrogance and ego cannot stand the fact that people would "dare" to rebel and speak out against his heavy-handed politics. Every time he opens his damned mouth, he shows his true colors. He's a political bully. Here's a newsflash, Cuomo: The Sheriffs work for us, not for you. WE elect them. So keep YOUR mouth shut. I hope the people in NYC wake up and get this piece of trash out of Albany next election, because Upstate cannot do it alone.
I as a Deputy will not enforce any unconstitutional law.
It's gaining on 200 towns, villages & cities
Shit. It's hard to post from my iPod. I was going to say that I hope Cuomo gets his ass booted out next election
Cuomo is a bully and I hope the Aheriffs
This guy thinks he can bully his way through this, but he doesn't have the support.
And they both overplayed there hands. The New York Sheriffs assoc just joined the N.R.A. and the N.Y.S.R.P.A. In their law suit. 52 out of 62 county's have passed resolutions againts the Unsafe Act. Over 147 towns have also passed resolutions saying no to this law. And its simple the people will not comply with this law.