Gun rights advocates came to a meeting of the Albany County Legislature fully loaded in support of a Hilltowns legislator’s push to repeal the SAFE Act.
The chamber overflowed on Monday, March 11, with a majority of the gathered crowd voicing opposition to new gun control laws. Republican Legislator Deborah Busch presented a proclamation for fellow lawmakers to sign in support of repealing the SAFE Act.
At least 14 legislators had signed the proclamation by the end of the meeting, according to Busch, meaning at least four Democrats signed on. It was not immediately clear which legislators signed the document.
The proclamation was not an actual resolution and there was no vote on the measure. Busch circulated it during the meeting. She acknowledged getting a majority of the heavily Democratic body to support such a resolution was unlikely.
“We are obligated to do the right thing regardless of party affiliation,” Busch said to fellow legislators. “Please remember that the constitution came before the parties that were developed to run candidates.”
Busch, a first-term legislator representing the Towns of Rensselaerville and Westerlo and portions of the Towns of Knox and Berne, said the SAFE Act threatens Second Amendment rights and is unconstitutional.
Many residents shared similar remarks during the public comment portion of the meeting, which was voted to be extended by 30 minutes after the initial hour ended. Many of the roughly 40 people who signed up were still waiting to speak, though some were commenting on other matters.
Joe Shufelt, an Albany resident identifying himself as a retired federal agent, said the SAFE Act should have been developed “rationally” and followed the normal three-day hearing period.
“I’m here to ask the Albany County Legislature to pass a resolution opposing the SAFE Act,” Shufelt said. “Now, I’ve been told that by asking you folks to pass this resolution I might as well go over there and bang my head on the wall.”
Shufelt argued opposing the gun control law isn’t a partisan issue and said he is a lifelong Democrat.
Paul Rapoli, 58, of Voorheesville, identified himself as a National Rifle Association member for more than 40 years and said he does not want to see the SAFE Act amended, but repealed entirely.
“This law is nothing more than feel good legislation and it will not have the effect of stopping anyone that is depraved like the person that killed 26 in Newtown, Conn.,” Rapoli said. “Does anyone think that if someone intent on such an act will run to the county sheriff’s department, register his rifle, count out the new legal amount of ammunition and worry about passing a background check? I think not.”
Rapoli, along with other advocates, said he opposed the law because it affected his right to defend and protect his family.
Lefkaditis Vasilios, of Knox, took a different approach and said he wasn’t going to ask for the law to be repealed. He offered a “middle ground” to amend the law to allow a person an exemption from the seven round magazine limit only while in their home.
“None of you have the right to take away our ability to defend our families,” Vasilios said.
Vasilios, along with other speakers, referenced a Siena Research Institute Poll released earlier that day that found 61 percent of New Yorkers support the SAFE Act. Some argued the poll was skewed towards Downstate residents.
“Polls are completely contingent upon the pool in which they are sampling,” Vasilios said. “If I sampled a pool in the back of this room I have a feeling the results would be significantly different.”
The poll showed 76 percent of Democrats supporting it compared to 37 percent of Republicans. Independents and voters identifying with other or no party supported it by 53 percent.
“Over the last month, upstate opposition has grown significantly, while Republican opposition decreased slightly,” Siena pollster Steven Greenberg said in a statement. “A majority of voters, including two-thirds of Democrats and nearly two-thirds of Downstaters, do not want the law repealed.”
Pollsters noted 12 percent of people supporting the law now want it repealed, while 9 percent of opponents feel it should not be repealed, indicating there may be shifting opinions on the matter.