New York Members! Please Contact Your Representatives!

Several bills that would impact law-abiding gun owners, hunters, and sportsmen are currently pending in the Assembly.  They include
A 3311, which would prohibit the sale of any pistol or revolver not containing a "child-proofing" device; and A 4615C, which legislates how gun owners must store their firearms and creates new crimes and penalties.  Reported out of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee this week were A 7039 (same as S 4453), which bans the sale, use, and possession of .50-caliber firearms; and A 8542B, which would expand the current ballistic "identification" program to include rifles and shotguns.  These measures now head to the Assembly floor for consideration. A 8456A, which would place many new onerous restrictions and requirements on firearm dealers, was also reported out of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee and was referred to the Assembly Rules Committee.  Please contact your Assembly member and urge him to OPPOSE the proposals listed above. Also please keep in mind that, although the New York State Senate has rejected Governor George Pataki`s (R) plan for renewable pistol licenses and new state fees contained in budget bills S. 6056/A. 9556, the budget process won`t be over until it`s finally adopted by the Legislature, so it is important to encourage lawmakers to continue to stand firm in opposing the Governor`s plan.  To get contact information for your Representatives please use the "Write Your Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org.  A very important meeting concerning the re-opening of the Suffolk County Trap & Skeet Range will be held on Wednesday, March 17, at 11:00 a.m., at the William H. Rogers Legislative Building, 725 Veterans Memorial Highway, Smithtown (phone number (631) 853-4077).  The Parks and Recreation Committee of the Suffolk County Legislature will discuss the noise abatement requirements of the range as well as reauthorization of the funds necessary to bring the range up to required specifications. These funds were approved last year, but not spent. A strong showing is critical if we are to succeed in getting the range re-opened!