On Feb. 28, the NRA, along with the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, held the Fifth Annual NYSRPA Lobby Day and Rally in Albany, N.Y. The rally drew more than 10,000 law-abiding gun owners. According to the New York State Police, it was one of the largest rallies ever held at the state capitol.
With the recent passage of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s so-called “safe” Act, which attacked law-abiding gun owners on nearly every front, this year’s rally held special importance. The throng of protesters who braved the rain and mud served as a repudiation of Gov. Cuomo’s legislation and complete disregard for the democratic process. Heard among the crowd were many chants of “Cuomo’s got to go!”
On Jan. 14, with a move that should anger anyone concerned about our democratic legislative process, Gov. Cuomo used an executive “message of necessity” to bypass the normal deliberations mandated by the state constitution. After closed-door meetings and much arm-twisting, the bill was put before the Senate a mere 20 minutes before the scheduled vote, was passed by the state assembly the following day and was signed by Gov. Cuomo within an hour of passage.
NRA President David Keene was the featured speaker at the rally and assured attendees that the NRA is committed to helping repeal the “safe” Act, saying the NRA would do “whatever is necessary”—including going to court—to defend the Second Amendment. Keene later told reporters, “There are so many people who are willing to stand up and fight for their rights and we want them to know that we’re with them. We’re not only with them, we’re one of them because they are the NRA.”
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