New York's anti-gun-dominated Assembly wasted no time advancing the usual laundry list of anti-gun proposals.  A7331, expanding the ban on so-called “assault weapons”; A3451, expanding the ballistic imaging program; A2772, banning .50 caliber firearms; A829, requiring "childproof" firearms; A76, requiring mandatory storage; A6525, creating new requirements and liability for gun dealers; and A3447, banning frangible ammunition, will all see floor action soon.  Additionally, the Assembly will consider A6052, which could put New York on the path to prohibiting lead ammunition.

Currently pending in the Codes Committee is A9543, a measure that would require black powder guns to be licensed as firearms. This proposal has brought about an especially concerned response from the re-enactors community, as these guns are an integral part of their activity. Each year thousands of participants travel from all over the country, as well as within the state, to take part in events in New York, which is rich with military history.  Passage of such a measure would surely kill this pastime in New York and deal yet another blow to the state's sagging economy. Please call your lawmakers today at 518-455-4100, and urge them to oppose the bills listed above.

New York Department of Environmental Conservation Chair Pete Grannis has remained true to his loyal following of anti-hunting environmentalists, as he announced recently that the DEC would prohibit the use of conventional ammunition, instead forcing all firearm-carrying agents to use so-called "green" ammunition.  This move will likely be a precursor to banning lead within other state agencies and then on all state-owned land opened to hunting or shooting.  There is no proof that conventional ammunition use causes significant risk to the environment. To the contrary, the amounts of lead introduced to the environment by hunters and shooters are so minute that more naturally occurring lead can probably be found embedded in the marble and stone in the halls of the state capital, or even in the gold leaf on Pete Grannis's door. Please call Commissioner Grannis at 518-402-8545 and ask him what message he is trying to send to hunters and shooters.