Good news and bad news
Pataki Bills Rejected 36 to 22, but it's far from dead.
First, the good news.
I personally called every single New York State Senator and each office (that provided a report) told me that the response has been overwhelming. In addition, virtually all of the calls were against Pataki's bills. I've heard that there were several times when you couldn't even get through to the legislators on Monday and Tuesday. Clearly the pro-gunners made themselves heard in a big way. The result was Pataki's gun package being defeated 36 to 22. It also appears that Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (who will be key player in defeating this legislation) is unlikely to make any compromises.
What's the bad news? Some Republican Senators have been quoted as saying that while they turned down the package as a whole, they're likely to pass some of the provisions of Pataki's bills. (The article below has some of their quotes.) And it could be as soon as today or tomorrow. If only seven of the 36 senators defect on any issue, we're sunk.
We made a great first impression, but our job is far from over. We need to drive the point home that no provisions are acceptable!
But where is the press? When Pataki introduced his bills, he was on the FRONT PAGE of the Daily News, the New York Times, and the New York Daily News. It was on every television news program for days and there were plenty of Internet news stories to read.
Apparently, the anti's don't provide a fair-and-balanced view when they loose. Today I purchased the New York Times, The New York Daily News, USA Today, and The Journal News hoping to find out the result of yesterday's vote. I scoured the Internet looking for stories. Only ONE paper had anything about the temporary defeat of this bill - The Journal News. And it wasn't on the front page - it was on page 3.
Even more interesting, The Journal News didn't cover how the senators were swamped with pro-gun phone calls and letters. They didn't focus on the 36 to 22 defeat. They didn't focus on the large mobilization of pro-Second Amendment and sportsman's organizations in New York. They didn't even ask any pro-gun organizations for their opinion. Instead, here's the article they printed (and did not include on their web site):
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Democrats turn up pressure for gun control
The Journal News
March 29, 2000
Yancey Roy
Albany Bureau
Albany - Pressure mounted yesterday on Senate Republicans to act on gun control as the governor and Democrats negotiated privately, and hundreds of activists descended on the state Capitol to target specific legislators who could be swing voters.
Democrats in the Senate also turned up the heat by trying to force a slew of gun control measures to a vote. The bills include mandating trigger locks on new guns, banning assault weapons and raising the handgun ownership age to 21. But in a procedural move, Republicans, who control the house, voted along party lines to reject the gun package, 36-22.
Earlier yesterday, hundreds of activists blanketed the Capitol to urge rank-and-file senators to support stronger gun laws. A group, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, singled out 11 senators - including Nicholas Spano, R-Yonkers, Thomas Morahan, R-Clarkstown, and Guy Velella, R-Bronx - who it says can force Republicans to cut a deal.
"We're going to put out a bill, and we're going to hit a lot of the issues they want," Velella said of the activists' list. He added that the whole issue could break in a day or two.
"I think you will see gun-law legislation come out this year," Morahan said. "Trigger locks will probably make it without much debate. The others are all in negotiation."
Spano said he wasn't sure why activists would target him, because he sponsors a trigger lock bill and a measure to charge adults with a felony if a child gains access to their gun and fires it. "I'm firmly in their corner," Spano said.
All of the state's legislators are up for re-election this year.
The issue has gained momentum in the last few weeks since Pataki, a Republican, unveiled a five-point gun control plan, including mandating trigger locks on newly manufactured guns, banning assault weapons and making it easier to trace guns used in crimes.
Pataki has had negotiations with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, on the issue. While hinting a deal could be at hand, Silver said, "I think it's all premature right now (to outline details). We are talking about a whole host of bills.
"I think the public sentiment is there," Silver said. But he quickly added that the other key player, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Rensselaer County, has so far resisted any negotiations. Talks may also be clouded by continuing budget negotiations.[/quote]
Keep up the phone calls, faxes, and letters. It's a great start guys and gals, but it ain't over yet!
- Tortuga
Pataki Bills Rejected 36 to 22, but it's far from dead.
First, the good news.
I personally called every single New York State Senator and each office (that provided a report) told me that the response has been overwhelming. In addition, virtually all of the calls were against Pataki's bills. I've heard that there were several times when you couldn't even get through to the legislators on Monday and Tuesday. Clearly the pro-gunners made themselves heard in a big way. The result was Pataki's gun package being defeated 36 to 22. It also appears that Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno (who will be key player in defeating this legislation) is unlikely to make any compromises.
What's the bad news? Some Republican Senators have been quoted as saying that while they turned down the package as a whole, they're likely to pass some of the provisions of Pataki's bills. (The article below has some of their quotes.) And it could be as soon as today or tomorrow. If only seven of the 36 senators defect on any issue, we're sunk.
We made a great first impression, but our job is far from over. We need to drive the point home that no provisions are acceptable!
But where is the press? When Pataki introduced his bills, he was on the FRONT PAGE of the Daily News, the New York Times, and the New York Daily News. It was on every television news program for days and there were plenty of Internet news stories to read.
Apparently, the anti's don't provide a fair-and-balanced view when they loose. Today I purchased the New York Times, The New York Daily News, USA Today, and The Journal News hoping to find out the result of yesterday's vote. I scoured the Internet looking for stories. Only ONE paper had anything about the temporary defeat of this bill - The Journal News. And it wasn't on the front page - it was on page 3.
Even more interesting, The Journal News didn't cover how the senators were swamped with pro-gun phone calls and letters. They didn't focus on the 36 to 22 defeat. They didn't focus on the large mobilization of pro-Second Amendment and sportsman's organizations in New York. They didn't even ask any pro-gun organizations for their opinion. Instead, here's the article they printed (and did not include on their web site):
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Democrats turn up pressure for gun control
The Journal News
March 29, 2000
Yancey Roy
Albany Bureau
Albany - Pressure mounted yesterday on Senate Republicans to act on gun control as the governor and Democrats negotiated privately, and hundreds of activists descended on the state Capitol to target specific legislators who could be swing voters.
Democrats in the Senate also turned up the heat by trying to force a slew of gun control measures to a vote. The bills include mandating trigger locks on new guns, banning assault weapons and raising the handgun ownership age to 21. But in a procedural move, Republicans, who control the house, voted along party lines to reject the gun package, 36-22.
Earlier yesterday, hundreds of activists blanketed the Capitol to urge rank-and-file senators to support stronger gun laws. A group, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, singled out 11 senators - including Nicholas Spano, R-Yonkers, Thomas Morahan, R-Clarkstown, and Guy Velella, R-Bronx - who it says can force Republicans to cut a deal.
"We're going to put out a bill, and we're going to hit a lot of the issues they want," Velella said of the activists' list. He added that the whole issue could break in a day or two.
"I think you will see gun-law legislation come out this year," Morahan said. "Trigger locks will probably make it without much debate. The others are all in negotiation."
Spano said he wasn't sure why activists would target him, because he sponsors a trigger lock bill and a measure to charge adults with a felony if a child gains access to their gun and fires it. "I'm firmly in their corner," Spano said.
All of the state's legislators are up for re-election this year.
The issue has gained momentum in the last few weeks since Pataki, a Republican, unveiled a five-point gun control plan, including mandating trigger locks on newly manufactured guns, banning assault weapons and making it easier to trace guns used in crimes.
Pataki has had negotiations with Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, D-Manhattan, on the issue. While hinting a deal could be at hand, Silver said, "I think it's all premature right now (to outline details). We are talking about a whole host of bills.
"I think the public sentiment is there," Silver said. But he quickly added that the other key player, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, R-Rensselaer County, has so far resisted any negotiations. Talks may also be clouded by continuing budget negotiations.[/quote]
Keep up the phone calls, faxes, and letters. It's a great start guys and gals, but it ain't over yet!
- Tortuga