Local battles over new state gun law continue

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Even though Monroe and Ontario counties are ready to formally oppose stricter gun regulations implemented earlier this year, it appears Gov. Andrew Cuomo is sticking to his guns when it comes to the NY SAFE Act.

Cuomo, in response to proposed revisions to the law from Republican state senators, said he is open to “technical” fixes to the law, but not substantive changes.

That’s disappointing, said Farmington Supervisor Ted Fafinski, who is former chairman of the county Board of Supervisors. Farmington itself has approved a resolution opposing the SAFE Act.

Ontario County most likely will be the next in line to join more than 20 municipalities across the state. Monroe County also is drafting a resolution in opposition, which could be discussed at its March 12 meeting.

In fact, public response in favor of such a stand at a previous Ontario County Board of Supervisors meeting prompted a change in venue for its meeting Thursday night, when the board is expected to vote.The meeting, usually held at the Ontario County Court House, has been moved to the Ontario County Safety Training Facility at 2914 County Road 48 in Hopewell.

The resolution is much tougher than was originally proposed, said Farmington Supervisor Ted Fafinski, who is former chairman of the county group.

The law infringes on New Yorkers’ Second Amendment rights and public input should have been allowed before it was so hastily approved, Fafinski said.

“It should be repealed,” Fafinski said. “Unfortunately, the SAFE Act did not follow the standard procedure in New York state. It’s totally disappointing.”

Not all municipalities are opposed to the SAFE Act.

The decision to give the Ontario County resolution more teeth was carried in a weighted vote, although the measure drew rare party-line opposition, with Democratic supervisors from Canandaigua and Geneva voting against it.

The Rochester City Council and Mayor Thomas S. Richards did draft a letter in support of the act, noting the city has had an assault weapons ban in place for 20 years.

“While we support the right to bear arms, we feel that this law takes the necessary steps to ensure that gun ownership is done in a responsible manner,” Richards and each council member wrote in the letter.

Individual legislators will be able to sign onto the Monroe County resolution, which will call into question the costs associated with enforcing the new regulations and its infringement on New Yorkers’ rights, said Majority Leader Anthony Daniele, R-Pittsford.

The NY SAFE Act was “definitely something that was hastily put together,” Daniele said