Since its inception in March 2001, a total 311,859 shell casings have been cataloged.

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

Albany, NY --(Ammoland.com)- The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association said they applaud Governor Cuomo’s proposal to scrap the Combined Ballistic Identification System (CoBIS).

After collecting over 356,000 spent shell casings since March 2001 at an estimated cost of nearly $44 million, not a single crime has been solved because of the program, NYSRPA says.

“By any rational measure, CoBIS has been a total failure,” said NYSRPA President Tom King.

“What is astounding is that there are actually elected officials defending it. Only in Albany would you find people who think that a program which has run for more than 10 years without producing a single result is good public policy.”

The legislature can end the failed system by passing A-1131/S-459.

Assemblyman Kenneth Zebrowksi said, “Over the past few years I have had many meetings where people have called into question the effectiveness and cost of the CoBIS program. I plan on consulting with law enforcement during budget negotiations, however, my initial reaction is that it may be the time to end this program and seek alternative, more cost effective law enforcement tools.”

Assemblywoman Annie Rabbit said, “I fully support eliminating the failed COBIS program immediately. It has been a waste of precious taxpayer money.”

NYSRPA Henry Ristau Man of the Year Award Goes to Joseph P. DeBergalis, Jr.

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

New York --(Ammoland.com)- The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is proud to announce the creation of a new and important award for meritorious service in furthering Second Amendment Freedoms and fostering growth of the shooting sports statewide and nationally.

To that end in the spirit of enthusiastic service to these ideals we are dedicating and naming the award after long time member Henry Ristau.

Henry, a World War II veteran, recently died shortly after his 101st birthday. Henry’s dedication to the Association and the Second Amendment manifested itself in his daily work ethic; he worked diligently at the NYSRPA’s office until six months prior to his passing. It is that same level of dedication and commitment we are looking for in recipients for this award.

Every once in awhile a deserving and hardworking individual is rewarded for the anonymous hard work and effort he daily puts in to foster and expand the shooting sports in New York State as well as the nation. The individual chosen for the NYSRPA Henry Ristau Man of the Year Award serves as vice president for the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association and in this position oversees the shooting sports in New York State.

He is also a member of the National Rifle Association Board of Directors where he serves on the Law Enforcement Assistance Committee, the Sport Shooting Committee, he is vice Chairman of the Action Shooting Committee and Chairman of the Education and Training Committee; he accomplishes these tasks while fulfilling the everyday duties of full time professional employment. He travels far and wide on weekends promoting the shooting sports particularly his favorite “The Three Gun Competition”; the fastest growing of all the expanding shooting sports.

It is with great pride and pleasure that I present this year’s NYSRPA “Henry Ristau Man of the Year Award” to my friend and associate Joseph P. DeBergalis, Jr.

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York.  Visit: www.nysrpa.org

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

ALBANY, NY --(Ammoland.com)- In a move that will eliminate the confusing patchwork of state laws regarding the concealed carry of firearms, the House of Representatives today passed H.R. 822 – the “National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011.”

In brief, H.R. 822 allows anyone with a valid state-issued concealed firearm license to carry a concealed firearm in any state that issues such licenses, or that does not prohibit the carrying of concealed firearms for lawful purposes.

Thus, in the same way that each state recognizes driver’s licenses issued in other states, each state will recognize other states’ concealed carry licenses. Each state’s laws governing where concealed firearms may be carried will continue to apply within its borders.

The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association congratulates the House on the passage of this bill, and urges the Senate to take it up as soon as possible.

Special thanks go to these members of the New York Congressional delegation: Bill Owens, Brian Higgins, Maurice Hinchey, Nan Hayworth, Richard Hanna, Tom Reed, Ann Marie Buerkle, Kathy Hochul and most of all Chris Gibson.

“Chris Gibson got it right when he said on the House floor that H.R. 822 is about freedom,” said Tom King NYSRPA President.

“The strong bipartisan support the bill received from our Congressional delegation shows that gun rights is a mainstream issue for New Yorkers.”

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York.  Visit: www.nysrpa.org

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

New York - -(Ammoland.com)- New York is the Least Free State in the Nation And we live in it!

That’s right according to the Mercatus Center of George Mason University New York is the least free of the fifty states (http://mercatus.org/freedom-50-states-2011/NY).

According to the study “New York is by far the least free state in the Union. It has also experienced the most interstate emigration of any state over the last decade. New York has by far the highest taxes in the country. Property, selective sales, individual income, and corporate-income taxes are particularly high. Spending on public welfare, hospitals, electric power, transit, employee retirement, and “other and unallocable” expenses are well above national norms.

Only Alaska has more government debt as a percentage of the economy. On personal freedoms, gun laws are extremely restrictive, but marijuana laws are better than average, while tobacco laws are extremely strict, and cigarette taxes are the highest in the country.

Motorists are highly regulated, and home school regulations are excessive, but nondrug victimless-crimes arrests are low. New York has the strictest health-insurance community-rating regulations in the country, which have wiped out the individual market.

Mandated coverage is worse than average but were actually cut back substantially in 2007-2008. Eminent domain abuse is rampant and unchecked. Perversely (in our view), the state has stricter contribution limits for grassroots PACs than for corporate and union PACs”

How can this be? How can the Empire State a past bastion of free thought have let itself become the most regulated and least Free State in the nation?

Where have our free and conservative thinkers go? Maybe they are just leaving or as someone once said “voting with their feet”.

The New York post awhile ago published an interesting article that stated ” Here are the ugly details: Since 2000, New York’s population grew at a paltry 2.1 percent, versus 9.7 percent nationally. As a result, New York not only loses those two House seats, it’ll also miss out on billions in federal cash. The slip is in line with a decades-long, nationwide trend: Since 1940, America’s population has been steadily shifting from high­ tax states, like New York, to low-tax states, like Texas and Florida. New York alone lost a stunning 18 seats over the past 50 years”. (http://tiny.cc/69pm1)

If you haven’t noticed I have yet to say anything about the 2nd Amendment.

New York State is abysmal! Most of the Cities are run by tax and spend mayors who are more interested in keeping their party and themselves in power than correcting the problems in their cities. I’m tired of hearing the worn out mantra “take the guns away and our streets will be safer”. The question should be asked, how much money does Mayor Bloomberg donate to these mayors to have them continually repeat that worn out phrase when all statistics prove it wrong?

Let me tell you what we have to do; we must cut taxes, welfare, and mandates. We must entice the private sector to create jobs in the cities, we must allow the police to arrest criminals and we must insist that the District Attorneys prosecute those that are arrested especially repeat offenders who commit crimes with guns. We must make it too difficult for the gangs to do business in our inner cities.

Why? Because recently I was talking to a very successful developer who made the comment “I wouldn’t build in the city if you gave me the property. You fear for your life when you work into the late night”.

Wake up New Yorkers before it is too late!

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York. Visit:  www.nysrpa.org

AmmoLand Gun News

Niagara County, NY --(Ammoland.com)- Niagara County lawmakers unanimously opposed an extreme bill passed by the New York State Assembly that would require gun-buyers in New York state to purchase guns the included costly technology that had been repeatedly proven unreliable at best.

County lawmakers expressed disgust with grandstanding by the State Assembly’s leadership, which every year passes a raft of anti-Second Amendment bills, most of which are stopped cold in the Senate. The Assembly’s passage of a bizarre “micro-stamping” bill­ long the darling of extreme gun-control organizations­ caused a pair of lawmakers representing four of Niagara County’s rural towns to lead an effort to condemn the Assembly’s actions and call on the Senate to block its passage.

Micro-stamping would, in theory, imprint a unique identification number on cartridges ejected by semiautomatic pistols. Unfortunately for proponents of the concept, it’s been repeatedly found to work poorly at best­ even being proven ineffective during an involved 2006 study at the University of California-Davis. With even a University of California school opposing mandating the technology, Niagara County lawmakers were left scratching their heads about why the Assembly is in such a hurry to require the unproven and costly technology in New York.

For that reason, Tuesday night county legislators were unanimous in admonishing the Assembly’s leadership for passing the legislation and asking the Senate to once again act as a road block against extreme laws, often authored by downstate Assemblymen.

“Again, it seems the assault has started with the anti-Second Amendment rights legislation originating in the Assembly,” Legislator John Syracuse, R-Newfane, told his colleagues. “What we have here is this micro-stamping­ I hesitate to use the word ‘technology’­ that has repeatedly failed in laboratory tests. And now the Assembly wants to require it.”

Syracuse noted that chief among the problems with micro-stamping ­aside from the fact that a similar experiment at a Suffolk County, N.Y., crime lab had found that virtually all of the stamped characters were unreadable­ and that a criminal with a metal file could render the technology impotent.

“They’re easily scoured or tampered with,” Syracuse said. “All this does is erode the rights of law-abiding citizens to purchase guns. And we won’t tolerate this back-door effort at gun control.”

Syracuse was joined in sponsoring the measure blasting the Assembly by Legislator Michael A. Hill, R-Middleport, a parole officer who was concerned about efforts by criminals to misuse micro-stamped ammunition casings fired by law-abiding firearms owners­ particularly his fellow law-enforcement officers.

“The problem with the technology is that there may be an opportunity that, if this actually worked, people could become victims of false accusations,” Hill said. “As a law-enforcement officer myself, I go to the range twice a year to qualify, and we use quite a few cartridges, and they’re all over the range. We do our best to pick them up. But we don’t get them all. And these ranges would be a popular place for criminals to go to pick up casings to scatter around a crime scene to add to confusion.”

Hill’s specific objection has been repeatedly cited by the National Rifle Association as well.

Hill, who as a law-enforcement officer is quite knowledgeable about firearms, noted a second failing of micro-stamping: it only is applicable to semiautomatic pistols. Micro-stamping would be ineffective on revolvers, as the expended cartridges remain in the gun.

“Old West-type guns­ revolvers ­don’t even eject their rounds. If they used a gun in that category to commit a crime, they’re going to take the cartridges with them,” Hill said. “That nullifies the effectiveness of this technology.”

Further complicating things, Hill and Syracuse noted, is that the Assembly bill requires creation of a statewide database of unique bullet IDs, but fails to explain how construction, updating, and maintenance of such a costly database would be paid for.

“I know that databases cost money to create. Databases cost money to maintain,” Hill said. “The Assembly doesn’t say where that money is going to come from.”

Hill summed up the County Legislature’s opposition to the Assembly micro-stamping bill on behalf of his colleagues.

“There are just a lot of holes in it,” Hill said. “The Assembly leadership is talking about adding an expense to law-enforcement for a technology that’s not proven, and that can be scrubbed right out of a handgun. And I just think it’s another attack on our Second Amendment rights.”

Second Amendment Foundation

BELLEVUE, WA --(Ammoland.com)- The Second Amendment Foundation announced this morning that it has filed an amended complaint in federal district court against New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the City of New York over exorbitant gun licensing fees, adding two additional plaintiffs who came forward asking to be part of the legal action.

SAF Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb said with these additional plaintiffs, there are now seven private citizens who have joined SAF and the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association in the lawsuit.

“We are being overwhelmed with calls following yesterday’s announcement about the lawsuit,” Gottlieb acknowledged.

“We want to assure everyone that they do not need to be part of the lawsuit in order to benefit from a victory.

“SAF truly appreciates the wave of enthusiasm and support from New York gun owners,” he continued. “We need to move forward right now, and if people would like to support our lawsuit with a tax-exempt contribution to SAF, we would welcome that.”

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York. Plaintiffs are represented by attorney David Jensen.

“Almost immediately after the lawsuit was filed,” Gottlieb said, “our phones started ringing as people wanted to join the lawsuit. We simply cannot take on more plaintiffs at this point and further delay the process.

“We do not want New York’s outrageous $340 license fee to continue one more day than it has to,” he explained. “Imagine if this was a poll tax. How many New Yorkers would be storming city hall right now, demanding their voting rights? The city’s excessive gun licensing fee amounts to the same egregious assault on every citizen’s right to self-protection in their own home.”

About:
The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control. SAF has previously funded successful firearms-related suits against the cities of Los Angeles; New Haven, CT; and San Francisco on behalf of American gun owners, a lawsuit against the cities suing gun makers and an amicus brief and fund for the Emerson case holding the Second Amendment as an individual right.

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

TROY, NY --(Ammoland.com)- The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association (NYSRPA) in conjunction with the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) have filed suit against the City of New York over the fees charged by the New York City Police Department for the costs associated with the processing of pistol license applications.

NYSRPA believes that both the City and State of New York violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by requiring the payment of fees as a prerequisite for the lawful exercise of the specifically enumerated individual civil right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment.

“The U.S. Supreme Court has recently made it clear that individuals have a right to own guns. Government cannot place arbitrary financial constraints upon those wishing to exercise this right any more than it can for those wishing to exercise their right to vote, ” said Tom King, President of NYSRPA.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg himself publicly acknowledged the indefensible nature of the fee structure last October when he urged the City Council to lower the costs specifically to avoid a lawsuit:

“We want to be in compliance with the law … so that we don’t want to lose the ability to have reasonable controls. If we have controls that the courts have ruled too onerous or too unfair, we could lose the whole thing.”

The City Council ignored the Mayor and flatly refused to take up this issue. NYSRPA has no choice but to take the issue to court.

Second Amendment Foundation

BELLEVUE, WA --(Ammoland.com)- The Second Amendment Foundation filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg that alleges New York City’s $340 fee for a permit to keep a handgun in the home is “excessive and impermissibly burdens the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.”

SAF is joined in the lawsuit by the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association and five individual New York City residents. Also named as a defendant in the lawsuit is New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman.

“Under state law,” said SAF Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb, “the maximum fee for issuing a New York State handgun license is $10, but the law exempts citizens living in New York City. That exemption allows the city to charge an exorbitant fee for the license, which discourages city residents from exercising their civil rights while violating the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

“For decades the City has charged its residents exorbitant license fees that far exceed the fees charged by other states and cities that impose them,” said attorney David Jensen, who is representing the plaintiffs. “The effect of this is to force a punitive tax on New York City citizens who choose to own firearms in compliance with the law. But people have a constitutional right to keep and bear arms, and the City cannot simply impose fees for the sake of burdening law-abiding gun owners.”

“The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association was founded 141 years ago in New York City and we are proud to participate in an action to help restore the Second Amendment rights of all New York City residents,” said NYSRPA President Tom King.

In its lawsuit, SAF notes that the $340 fee is not used to defray administrative costs, so there appears to be no purpose for it other than to discourage people from applying for a permit. The excessive fee, according to Gottlieb, puts the exercise of a constitutional right solely within the financial reach of the wealthy class, essentially turning a civil right into a privilege for the rich and well-connected.

“New York is one of only two states that require a permit just to keep a handgun in one’s own home,” Gottlieb said. “Citizens in the other 48 states would consider that an outrage. The city’s residence premises’ handgun license amounts to a charge of more than $100 annually to keep a handgun in one’s home, which is ridiculous. Mayor Bloomberg is essentially taxing the fundamental right to defend one’s self in his or her own home. We cannot think of anything more egregious than perpetuating a fee structure that puts a financial obstacle in the way of citizens who want to protect their homes and families.

“We believe the only recourse is to take this issue to the federal court,” he concluded. “Billionaires like Mayor Bloomberg can be cavalier about a citizen’s rights, but we can’t, and we won’t.”

The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 650,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control. SAF has previously funded successful firearms-related suits against the cities of Los Angeles; New Haven, CT; and San Francisco on behalf of American gun owners, a lawsuit against the cities suing gun makers and an amicus brief and fund for the Emerson case holding the Second Amendment as an individual right.

Since its inception in March 2001, a total 311,859 shell casings have been cataloged.

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

TROY, NY --(Ammoland.com)- This month marks the 10th anniversary of New York’s Combined Ballistic Identification System (CoBIS) program.

Under this program, all new handguns sold in the state must be test fired and the shell casing imaged and entered into an electronic databank for possible crime scene identification.

Since its inception in March 2001, a total 311,859 shell casings have been cataloged. At an estimated cost of $4 million dollars per year, $40 million dollars has been spent on CoBIS over the past decade.

What have taxpayers received for this? Absolutely nothing!

Not a single crime has been solved because of it. By any measure, CoBIS has been a total failure and a public policy disaster.

Now, the same people who swore CoBIS would work are back pushing more of the same failed philosophy in the form of mandatory firearms microstamping, which is essentially another ballistic imaging scheme based upon unproven science fiction technology. The New York State Sheriffs’ Association recognizes this nonsense and opposes the microstamping legislation.

NYSRPA calls upon Governor Andrew Cuomo, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and state legislative leaders to publicly recognize these boondoggles for what they are, defund the CoBIS program and stand up to the fringe special interests advocating microstamping.

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York. Visit:  www.nysrpa.org

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

New York --(Ammoland.com)- Do you want to preserve your firearms freedoms, promote youth hunting, increase access to public lands and ensure Conservation Fund monies are wisely spent?

On November 2 make your voice heard and vote for those candidates who will support you in Albany and across the state.

2010 General Election Candidate Ratings and Endorsements

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association 2010 Candidate Ratings

The grading system is as follows:

• A Outspoken supporter of RKBA/sponsors pro-gun legislation and initiatives
• B Supports RKBA/votes for pro-gun legislation and initiatives
• C Cannot be counted on to vote pro-gun/possibly clueless and/or does not understand the issues well
• D Opposes RKBA/votes for anti-gun legislation and initiatives
• F Outspoken opponent of RKBA/sponsors anti-gun legislation and initiatives
• ? Did not survey/unable to survey/did not return survey

Notes: It is much easier to get an F than it is an A. A person must have publicly demonstrated his support for the RKBA to receive an A. Incumbents are in bold. NYSRPA/NRA members are in italics. NYSRPA-PVF endorsed candidates have a * next to their grades.

Check our webpage for last minute additions or corrections.

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York. Visit www.nysrpa.org

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

New York - -(AmmoLand.com)- Below is a copy of a letter sent by the NRA to U.S. Senate Judiciary Chairman Senator Patrick Leahy and Ranking member Senator Jeff Sessions explaining their position on the nomination of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court of the United States.

The letter is concise and to the point please read the letter and my comments following it.

NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA
11250 WAPLES MILL ROAD
FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA 22030
July 1, 2010

The Honorable Patrick Leahy The Honorable Jeff Sessions

Chairman Ranking Member

Senate Committee on the Judiciary Senate Committee on the Judiciary

224 Dirksen Senate Office Building 152 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Chairman Leahy and Ranking Member Sessions:

We are writing to announce the National Rifle Association’s position on the confirmation of Solicitor General Elena Kagan as Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Other than declaring war, neither house of Congress has a more solemn responsibility than the Senate’s role in confirming justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. As the Senate considers the nomination of Solicitor General Kagan, Americans have been watching to see whether this nominee – if confirmed – would respect the Second Amendment or side with those who have declared war on the rights of America’s 80 million gun owners.

During confirmation hearings, judicial nominees make carefully crafted statements regarding issues with which they do not personally agree. They often speak in terms of “settled law” or “I understand the right”. When those statements are contradicted by an entire body of work over a nominee’s career, however, it would be foolhardy to simply take them at face value. In Ms. Kagan’s own words, “you can look to my whole life as to what kind of justice I would be.” We agree.

As she has no judicial record on which we can rely, we have only her political record to review. And throughout her political career, she has repeatedly demonstrated a clear hostility to the fundamental, individual right to keep and bear arms guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.

As a clerk for Justice Thurgood Marshall, Ms. Kagan said she was “not sympathetic” to a challenge to Washington, D.C.’s ban on handguns and draconian registration requirements. As domestic policy advisor in the Clinton White House, a colleague described her as “immersed” in President Clinton’s gun control policy efforts. For example, she was involved in an effort to ban more than 50 types of commonly-owned semi-automatic firearms – an effort that was described as: “taking the law and bending it as far as we can to capture a whole new class of guns.” And as U.S. Solicitor General, she chose not to file a brief last year in the landmark case McDonald v. Chicago, thus taking the position that incorporating the Second Amendment and applying it to the States was of no interest to the Obama Administration or the federal government. These are not the positions of a person who supports the Second Amendment.

During her confirmation hearings last year, Justice Sonia Sotomayor repeatedly stated that the Supreme Court’s historic Heller decision was “settled law”. Even further, in response to a question from Chairman Leahy, she said “I understand the individual right fully that the Supreme Court recognized in Heller’.” Yet last Monday in McDonald, she joined a dissenting opinion which stated: “I can find nothing in the Second Amendment’s text, history, or underlying rationale that could warrant characterizing it as ‘fundamental’ insofar as it seeks to protect the keeping and bearing of arms for private self-defense purposes”.

We would also note that both Heller and McDonald were 5-4 decisions. The fact that four justices would effectively write the Second Amendment out of the Constitution is completely unacceptable. Ms. Kagan has repeatedly declined to say whether she agrees with the dissenting views of justices Stevens, Breyer, Ginsburg and Sotomayor, which leaves unanswered the very serious questions of whether she would vote to overturn Heller and McDonald or narrow their holdings to a practical nullity.

This nation was founded on a set of fundamental freedoms. Our Constitution does not give us those freedoms – it guarantees and protects them. The right to defend ourselves and our loved ones is one of those. The fundamental, individual right to keep and bear arms is another. These truths are what define us as Americans.

Any individual who does not believe that the Second Amendment guarantees a fundamental right and who does not respect our God-given right of self-defense should not serve on any court, much less receive a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land. Justice Sotomayor’s blatant reversal on this critical issue requires that we look beyond statements made during confirmation hearings and examine a nominee’s entire body of work. Unfortunately, Ms. Kagan’s record on the Second Amendment gives us no confidence that if confirmed to the Court, she will faithfully defend the fundamental, individual right to keep and bear arms of law-abiding Americans.

For these reasons, the National Rifle Association has no choice but to oppose the confirmation of Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court. Given the importance of this issue, this vote will be considered in NRA’s future candidate evaluations.

Thank you for your attention to our concerns. Should you have any questions or wish to discuss further, please do not hesitate to call on us personally.

Sincerely,

Wayne LaPierre Chris Cox

Executive Vice President Executive Director

NRA NRA-ILA

cc: Majority Leader Harry Reid; Republican Leader Mitch McConnell; Members of the

United States Senate

The above letter states the position of the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association as well. We must all contact our Senators demanding they vote NO on the nomination of Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court. More importantly, we must also contact our Democratic Representatives in Congress urging them to bring pressure to bear on their Democratic colleagues in the Senate; explaining that reelection to either House is dependent on following the wishes of their constituency.

Below is a link for finding and contacting your representatives;

www.nraila.org/ActionCenter/

Let’s do it!

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York. Visit: www.nysrpa.org

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

New York - -(AmmoLand.com)- There are a myriad of rumors regarding the NRA cluttering the internet but one in particular is causing me personal anguish.

That rumor reports that the NRA staff has issued a gag order to the NRA Board of Directors regarding comments on the nomination of Elena Kagen to the Supreme Court.

Let me explain something about the structure of the NRA; authority to do anything within the NRA comes from you the members of the NRA. That authority is delegated to your elected Board of Directors who in turn elects officers and formulate policy that is then issued to the Executive Vice President/CEO who then turns that policy into action through the professional staff.

Gag orders for the Board of Directors do not exist.

Friends; those of you close to me should know by now that telling me I can’t speak up on an issue of vital importance to the 2nd Amendment is going to get you into a war.

I spoke vociferously regarding the nomination of Sonya Sotomayor to the Supreme Court; in fact I joined a number of national 2nd Amendment leaders protesting the appointment and urging through a nationally published letter she not be confirmed.

I did that because of her ties to New York State and the position she took, on then recent, anti 2nd Amendment decisions. I have not taken a position on Elena Kagen’s nomination to the Supreme Court because I find it absurd that anyone with no judicial experience would be nominated to the Supreme Court and fervently hope the Republican Senators will block this nomination.

The 2nd Amendment protects all the rest. Why would the NRA, the protector of the 2nd Amendment, attempt to limit the 1st Amendment rights of its’ own Board of Directors?

It does not but if you think the Board members you voted for could be gagged then you voted for the wrong guys.

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

Albany, NY --(Ammoland.com)- Gun Owners of New York,

Yesterday was a landmark day for gun rights in New York State but the fight is not over. Since S-6005 was pulled from the floor rather than defeated it can be brought back for another attempt at passage this year.

Last evening at Senator Dale Volker’s retirement party there as much talk about when or if A-6005 would re surface and this morning the word is it may be back on Monday June 21, 2010.

The Senate Republicans are standing solidly behind us; please contact your senator and thank him for his support.

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York. Visit: www.nysrpa.org

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

Albany, NY --(Ammoland.com)- As everyone knows microstamping will most likely come to a vote in the NYS Senate prior to adjournment this month.

I know you have been calling your NYS Senator and urging that this legislation be defeated since it will do nothing to make the people of New York State more secure only further restrict the legal and lawful gun owners of this state. I appreciate that but the fight is not over and there is more to do.

Please call all of the following NYS Senate Republican Senate leaders and urge them to hold their conference together and make sure their members all vote NO ON MICROSTAMPING.

Those Senators and their positions are:

• Senator Dean G. Skelos, Minority Leader, PH: 518-455-3171, Skelos@senate.state.ny.us
• Thomas W. Libous, Asst Minority Leader, PH: 518-455-2677, senator@senatorlibous.com
• Vincent L. Leibell, Asst Minority Leader, PH: 518-455-2677, leibell@senate.state.ny.us
• Owen H. Johnson, Asst Minority Leader, PH: 518-455-3411, ojohnson@senate.state.ny.us
• Thomas P. Morahan, Chair, Minority Policy, PH: 518-455-3261, morahan@senate.ny.us
• William J. Larkin, Minority Whip, PH: 518-455-2770, larkin@senate.state.ny.us
• Michael F. Nozzolio, Asst Minority Whip, PH: 518-455-2366, nozzolio@senate.state.ny.us
• Kenneth P. LaValle, Chair, Minority Conference, PH: 518-455-3121, lavalle@senate.state.ny.us

Remember, emails are good but calls are better, let’s show the leadership how we feel and explain in a polite manner that their jobs are dependent on us. Light up the Switchboard

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York. Visit: www.nysrpa.org

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

Albany, NY --(AmmoLand.com)- A-7733A, Authorizes courts to revoke firearms license and seize the weapons of certain individuals, just passed the Assembly. Senate companion is S-5456.

From the Bill:

“to amend the penal law, the criminal procedure law, and the mental hygiene law, in relation to authorizing court to revoke the firearms license and seize weapons of certain individuals”

“Firearm, rifle or shotgun surrender order.  Upon entry of a verdict of not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect, or upon the acceptance of a plea of not responsible by reason of mental disease or defect, the court shall revoke the defendant’s firearm license,”

“Issuance of court order authorizing involuntary care and treatment under this article.  In issuing any order or determination under this article that a person is in need of involuntary care and treatment or that there is a need for retention of such person, the court shall revoke such person’s firearm license, if any, inquire of the person as to the existence and location of any firearm, rifle or shotgun owned or possessed by such person and 2 direct the surrender of such firearm, rifle or shotgun…”

http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=a7733

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York. Visit:  www.nysrpa.org

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

Utica, NY --(Ammoland.com)- The Utica City Council is considering two resolutions in support of Mayor Bloomberg’s/MAIG’s anti-gun / anti-freedom efforts.

Resolution 13 is in support of HR-2159, prohibiting anyone on the terrorism watch list from buying a gun. Problem is nobody knows how people are put on this list or how to get off it. Ted Kennedy was denied boarding at an airport because he was on the list.

Resolution 14 is in support of HR-2324, closing the so-called gun show loophole. Basically prohibits private gun sales.

A copy of both resolutions are available on our website at http://www.nysrpa.org/files/Utica-RES13-14.pdf

Contact information for the City Council can be found at http://www.cityofutica.com/CommonCouncil/

Jacob J. Rieper, Vice President of Legislative & Political Affairs New York State Rifle & Pistol Association http://www.nysrpa.org http://www.nysrpa-pvf.org

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York. Visit:  www.nysrpa.org

County of Niagara

LOCKPORT, NY --(AmmoLand.com)- Niagara County lawmakers will introduce several resolutions tonight opposing a slew of anti-sportsmen and anti-Second Amendment measures being advanced by the New York State Assembly’s majority and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.

“In typical Albany fashion, the Assembly will hold, probably sometime in April, an ‘Anti-Gun Day,’ putting on a big show for their Downstate constituents,” Legislator John Syracuse, R-Newfane, said, as he introduced three resolutions opposing various Assembly bills.

“They’ll ram through one piece of anti-gun legislation after another. The problem is, though, you can’t be anti-gun without being anti-sportsman and anti-Second Amendment. And here in Niagara County, we value our sportsmen and we believe in the Constitution as it’s written.”

Syracuse made the announcement late Monday at the Niagara County Public Information Office’s press briefing area, where he was joined by Niagara County Federation of Conservation Clubs President John Butcher, who said he supported the three resolutions. The Federation represents 27 sportsmen’s clubs and more than 5,000 sportsmen.

Several county legislators were particularly vexed by proposed legislation that would require pistol permit-holders to renew their permits every five years, enduring an invasive investigation every renewal—and being expected to pay for it. Syracuse said the measure was little more than a costly unfunded mandate from the state the created new bureaucratic hurdles for gun owners while doing absolutely nothing to improve public safety.

“Currently, pistol permits are issued for the lifetime of the permit-holder, provided they don’t have any tangles with the law,” Syracuse said. “If they do run afoul of the law, those permits are promptly yanked. The system works, and has worked just fine for Niagara County’s 26,000 pistol permit holders.”

Syracuse was joined sponsoring that resolution by fellow lawmaker Paul Wojtaszek, R-North Tonawanda, and Kyle Andrews, D-Wilson, who resigned from the Legislature yesterday to take on new duties as county treasurer. County Clerk Wayne F. Jagow has also indicated his opposition to the Assembly bill. A second resolution being introduced tonight by Legislator John D. Ceretto, R-Lewiston, will tackle an Assembly bill that would treat any private transfers of long guns in New York state as a gun show, and subject to state red tape. Syracuse also indicated he would introduce a resolution to oppose an extreme tightening of rules on magazine-fed rifles and shotguns.

“A third proposed law from Albany that this County Legislature will oppose would seek to make New York’s laws regarding magazine-fed rifles and shotguns, already the most-restrictive in the nation, even more restrictive,” Syracuse said. “This basically makes it illegal for private citizens to own much more than a bolt-action rifle.”

Syracuse said more resolutions opposing other anti-Second Amendment bills in the Assembly would be introduced at subsequent meetings of the County Legislature, noting more than a dozen such measures had been added to the Assembly calendar over the past two months.

“These bills in our State Legislature are wrongheaded,” Syracuse said. “Frankly, they show us that the Assembly leadership have their priorities far out of line, when they should be focusing on New York’s massive budget gap. We, of course, don’t share their zeal to repeal our citizens’ rights.” Syracuse was confident the resolutions would attract strong bi-partisan support, noting that the County Legislature had passed a resolution opposing most Assembly anti-Second Amendment bills last year by a 17-2 margin.

Butcher expressed his support and thanks for the efforts by Syracuse and his colleagues as well. “The citizens of Niagara County are fortunate to have legislators who share the same values as our forefathers and who are willing to draft legislation that will help preserve and protect their rights,” Butcher said. “These rights were given to the people as guaranteed in the Constitution of the United States and in the Bill of Rights with the Second Amendment.”

Letters to the AmmoLand Editor: Got something on your mind? Let us know and you can see it here.

Troy, New York --(AmmoLand.com)- Fellow Shooters, It has been brought to my attention that a letter has been disseminated to the Sporter Rifle Community and the public at large urging that you not cast a ballot for me in my bid for reelection to the NRA Board of directors. The letter accused me of everything but crimes against nature; please allow me a moment to state my position.

The NYSRPA has/had no intention of “taking over the Sporter Rifle” program, causing additional record keeping, increasing fees or getting rich from the proceeds of the Sporter Rifle program. What we asked was that the members of the Sporter Rifle Association become members of the NYSRPA.

Why? To protect the Association from liability resulting from or arising out of any accident at a sponsored NYSRPA shooting event in the very litigious New York State and our insurance carrier demands it.

The NYSRPA coverage under our General Liability Insurance policy defines those covered in the following manner:  Persons Insured: Named Insured, as listed in Item #1 of the Declarations page plus all members of the named insured, while acting within the scope of their duties as such.

We became aware of this requirement while undergoing an audit prior to the launch of our new 501c3 foundation to promote the shooting sports in New York State.

All other shooting disciplines that compete under the banner of the NYSRPA require their members to belong to the Association. To facilitate the transition to full NYSRPA membership we offered a deeply discounted membership plan to Sporter Rifle that their representative turned down.

When our discussions ended I thought we parted amicably; with New York State Sporter Rifle continuing on their path and the NYSRPA establishing a new Light Rifle Directorship so as not to compete with Sporter Rifle. Obviously I was mistaken.

Fellow shooters I was not on a power trip or attempting to impose unreasonable demands on another New York State incorporated association; I was simply trying protect the NYSRPA as my fiduciary duties as president of the NYSRPA.

No more; no less. Please support me in my bid for reelection to the NRA Board of Directors.

New York State SportRifle

New York – -(AmmoLand.com)- To all Sporterifle Shooters, I am sure some of you have heard of some problems between Sporterifle and the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association. I feel it is time to explain the situation to all.

Sporterifle and NYSRPA have enjoyed a somewhat rocky but workable relationship for 50 years.

Two years ago, just before our summer meeting, I was approached by Joe DeBergalis, Vice President of NYSRPA, with a proposal to offer a discount on NYSRPA dues. But in order to enjoy this we had to have 100% of our shooters be NYSRPA members.

This was unacceptable to the Sporterifle board for the following reasons:

1. We believe that membership in any organization should be of free choice. We encourage membership in NRA, NYSRPA etc., but believe it should be free choice of the individual, not forced to participate in an activity.
2. It would be unfair to our out of state shooters.
3. It would put an additional burden of record keeping, either on Sporterifle or the team Captains to keep track of and collect NYSRPA dues.
4. It would open the door for NYSRPA to demand a fee every time a shooter shoots that would go to NYSRPA.
5. It would open the door for NYSRPA to have a voice in our policies and finances. Mr. DeBergalis was very unhappy that I would not support this idea and that I informed him that my allegiance was Sporterifle first and NYSRPA’s interests a distant second. He then threatened to take my views to the NYSRPA Executive Board and Tom King, NYSRPA President.

I did not attend any further meetings of NYSRPA board after that, to avoid any further conflict. I announced at last year’s banquets that I would not run for re-election. My feelings were that I could not do anything further to advance Sporterifle with the NYSRPA. Historically the Director is a person recommended by Sporterifle and then accepted by the NYSRPA and has a seat on both boards. I could not in good conscience feel I could represent the interests of both groups when the views were so opposite.

The Sporterifle board discussed this situation at our summer meeting 2009, and I again stated why I would not seek the office again at the end of this term (summer 2011). Sporterifle Board decided not to offer another candidate for the NYSRPA board. About December of this year I received a letter from Mr. DeBergalis accepting my resignation from the NYSRPA board that I had never tendered. I answered by registered letter that I had not resigned and that I had every intention o f finishing my term but not seeking re-election. A couple of weeks later I received a letter from Tom King saying that I was off the board, period. I then called Mr. King and restated my position.

He told me that Sporterifle was under NYSRPA control, they could take it over and run it as they saw fit. He also stated we could lose our NRA matches. He implied that he and Mr. DeBergalis would use their influence as NRA board members to force the NRA to drop our match sanctions even though we had done nothing wrong.

We, being the Sporterifle Board, decided that we needed legal advice as to what, if any, hold NYSRPA had over us. We had a meeting with a legal firm in Rochester who reviewed the situation. As we are incorporated in the State of New York as NYS Sporterifle and we received no money or goods from NYSRPA and there was no contract, in the lawyers’ opinion, NYS Sporterifle was under no obligation or control of NYSRPA. The lawyers also suggested several things we should do in order to “Bullet Proof” our situation. We authorized them to proceed.

At the present time there is no connection between NYS Sporterifle and New York State Rifle and Pistol Association. We have been removed from NYSRPA’s web site and we have removed their name from our web site and from all of our documentation. I expect you will see some changes in our match offerings due to this change and the situation with the NRA matches. I also expect to see a small increase in Sporterifle fees to cover the cost of the lawyers.

Tom King is running for re-election to the NRA board this March. Many long-time NRA and higher level NRA members get to vote on this position. In view of Mr. King’s actions toward Sporterifle, I cannot support his re-election bid. I also hope that you who can vote in this election and your friends and relatives who can vote in this election will NOT vote for Mr. King for NRA board. His actions toward Sporterifle and his willingness to deprive the NRA of $2000 a year that we send the NRA in match fees in order to pursue his personal vendetta does not make him a fit person to hold that office.

We believe that what we are doing is in the best interest of Sporterifle and the Sporterifle shooters. As always, we solicit and request your comments and feelings on the above. I am well aware that Sporterifle shooters are happy to leave the administration and conduct of Sporterifle to us as leaders, but feel that this is important enough to hopefully elicit your thoughts and comments. This is not a situation we created, but a situation being forced upon us by the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association.

We were willing to go on doing the same as we had in the past; NYSRPA was not.

About:
NYS Sporterifle is a postal target competition using 22 cal. rimfire rifles. The shooting position is off-hand standing with the target at 50 feet. The sport is designed so that expensive special equipment is not required. It is possible to be competitive with equipment you may already own. Visit: www.sporterifle.org

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

TROY, NY --(AmmoLand.com)- All freedom-loving New Yorkers are invited for a day to celebrate and advocate for 2nd Amendment civil rights in the State legislature. The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association and Assembly Minority Leader Brian M. Kolb announce a day of celebration and advocacy of the 2nd Amendment in Albany with NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre.

This event will take place on January 12, 2010 from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM in the Well of the Legislative Office Building at South Swan and State Streets.

Call your State Assemblyman and State Senator to make an appointment to meet with them in their offices on January 12th. Assembly switchboard: (518)455-4100; Senate switchboard: (518)455-2800. Then call Assemblyman Kolb’s office and let him know you’re coming: (518)455-4751.

Each year New Yorkers Against Gun Violence and members of the legislature hold Gun Control Day to promote anti-gun, anti-freedom legislation and blame YOU for crime and violence. It is time to fire back and celebrate our freedoms! See you in Albany!

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York. Visit:  www.nysrpa.org

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

TROY, NY --(AmmoLand.com)- From time to time the notion of a renewable pistol license (in contrast to the current lifetime license) surfaces in the State Legislature.

Rumors are currently spreading around the state via the internet and word of mouth that certain individuals/groups involved in Second Amendment advocacy are soliciting support for a Renewable Pistol Licensing Law.

The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association worked diligently last year to defeat a similar proposal brought forward by Governor David Patterson and we wish to make it perfectly clear at this time: The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association opposes this proposed legislation and will invest all our assets in defeating it.

We are told that a benefit of the proposed legislation would be periodic checks on license holders’ legal status and fitness to own firearms. No one wants firearms in the wrong hands, and at present every firearm purchase in New York State requires a NICS background check. This serves the same purpose as periodic investigations, and at very low cost and inconvenience.

The fee for periodic renewals is uncertain, but whatever it turns out to be, it is sure to escalate. New York City provides a useful comparison here. It currently costs hundreds of dollars to periodically renew a NYC pistol license, and that cost is sure to rise as City government seeks additional sources of revenue. Would a State system function any differently?

The proposed legislation would also add licensing requirements such as expensive, mandatory training classes run by well, we don’t know. Would these classes facilitate the licensing process or serve as just one more way to deny an application? We don’t know. In addition, you will be trekking to your county clerk’s office, since renewal applications must be personally delivered. We are promised a 30-minute turnaround time at the clerk’s office. We doubt it.

All in all, the proposed legislation offers little, and promises to be a burden. It is time for New York’s shooters, hunters and Second Amendment advocates to join together and speak with one voice. Renewable Pistol Licenses are not an option for New York State firearms owners.

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York.

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

TROY, NY --(AmmoLand.com)- In these difficult economic times, Gov. Paterson has called for $3 billion in budget cuts. The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association has a suggestion for saving several million taxpayer dollars each year: abolish the Combined Ballistic Identification System (COBIS).

The COBIS program was introduced by Gov. Pataki in 2000. Its stated purpose is to collect identifying data from the shell casings of all new handguns sold in the state.

This information is then entered into a database for use by law enforcement to aid in identifying and prosecuting criminals.

Since its inception, over a quarter of a million shell cases have been collected and entered into the database at an estimated cost of $32 million and not a single arrest or conviction has resulted.

In fact, COBIS has proven to be such a boondoggle that no other state is even considering implementing their own version of it.

If Gov. Paterson is serious about saving money, then COBIS ought to be at the top of the list of programs to be cut.

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York.

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

New York --(AmmoLand.com)- David Yassky is a former staffer to Charles Schumer. He’s the guy who actually wrote the Brady Bill. He moved up to the City Council where he continued to push for more gun control like strict gun dealer liability.

Pat, Amy and Barry testified on behalf of NYSRPA in council hearings against these ideas. Yassky himself defended them on NRA News. Faced with term limits Yassky decided to run for City Comptroller. He has no background related to finance so he based his campaign largely on his gun control record. Both the Daily News and New York Times endorsed his campaign because of it. New Yorkers Against Gun Violence founder Barbara Hohlt personally contributed to his campaign.

His advertisements loudly and proudly touted his work with Schumer. Yassky thought it was funny we were telling people to vote against him. Quote: “This is a badge of honor for David, who has fought for tough gun control for years in order to protect New Yorkers.”

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/brawlforthehall/2009/09/gunnies-target-candidates-rich.html

What did this badge of honor get him in the primary?

He lost with 30% of the vote.

Unfortunately, it was a 4 way race and the winner came up just short of the 40% needed to prevent a runoff. So Yassky advanced to round two anyway and we let fly a second GOTV mailing. Now going mano-a-mano with John Liu, Democrats would have a clear choice between the gun control candidate and someone else in a citywide runoff. Yassky had something Richard Aborn didn’t: an endorsement by Charles Schumer as seen here

And what’s Schumer’s endorsement worth?

A double digit loss. Yassky gets 44.3% to Liu’s 55.7%. Since he had to give up his Council seat to run for Comptroller he’s got nowhere else to go so he’s outta here. For the second time in as many weeks NYC Democrats have rejected the gun control candidate and their agenda and that will further marginalize the people and organizations who promoted them.

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York.

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

Albany, NY --(AmmoLand.com)- Get ready! January 12, 2010 is the day we have all been waiting for.

The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association in association with Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb are proud to announce the first annual New York Sportsmen’s Outreach Day.

The Keynote speaker will be NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre.

That’s right Wayne LaPierre is coming to Albany to speak on the issues important to all of us.

Please plan to make sure you’re here to take part in what should be a historic event in Albany. Let’s send a message about gun and sportsmen’s rights.

Details are scant at this time but will be forth coming in the near future.

Thank you for your support,

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York.

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

New York - -(AmmoLand.com)- Richard Aborn is the former head of Handgun Control (Brady Campaign.) He’s directly responsible for the Brady Law and the ’94 Clinton gun ban.

He based his campaign for Manhattan DA entirely upon his gun control record. He hadn’t tried a case in like 20 years so it’s not as if he could base it on his extensive legal experience.

He spent the last year on the campaign trail talking about gun control. He raised over a million dollars for his campaign.

He had more endorsements than either of his opponents including ones from Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy, State Senators Eric Schneiderman and Eric Adams, Assemblypersons Jonathan Bing, Deborah Glick, Richard Gottfried, Brian Kavanagh, Daniel O’Donnell, Linda Rosenthal and Michelle Schimel, the Brady Campaign, Gun Free Kids, Million Mom March and New Yorkers Against Gun Violence.

The Brady Campaign donated $1000. NYAGV founder Barbara Hohlt and current mouthpiece Jackie Hilly each made personal campaign contributions.

Aborn repeatedly attacked the NRA and accused them of being out to get him. He attacked opponent Cy Vance for a small campaign donation he made years ago to a politician in Seattle who just so happened to be pro-gun. He sent out a mailer of him shaking hands with Bill Clinton, implying Clinton endorsed Aborn, which pissed Clinton off because he didn’t. Aborn attacked the R&P and thought it was funny we would tell members to vote against him. He finished up by making a last minute personal loan of $50,000 to his campaign.

The end result?
Aborn had his butt kicked up and down the boro. He didn’t just lose; he came in dead last with only a quarter of the votes. He did so badly it should damage the creditability of those who endorsed him because a solid majority of Manhattan Democrats wanted nothing to do with him or his agenda.

And it gets better.
Middletown Mayor Marlinda Duncanson lost her primary. Duncanson joined Bloomberg’s antigun mayor’s coalition earlier this year and started parroting their agenda. She lost her race 2 to 1. She is the 2nd Bloomberg buddy we’ve been able to remove.

In Albany, Common Councilman James Scalzo lost his race. He was one of the sponsors of ORD 48.41.07, the Bloomberg inspired omnibus gun control package introduced two years ago.

Finally, in the Town of Kent, our member John Greene defeated an incumbent to win the GOP endorsement. Good for him.

Celebrate by making a generous offering to the PVF.

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=8253102

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York.

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

New York --(AmmoLand.com)- Next Tuesday is primary day and voter mail will be arriving in mailboxes over the next few days. Here is the list of endorsements & voting recommendations.

John Greene is running for Kent Town Board in Putnam Co. He is a R&P member and pres. of the local Pheasants Forever chapter. Go help him. http://www.johngreene4kent.com

Vote AGAINST all of these guys:

• Manhattan District Attorney candidate Richard Aborn. He’s the former head Handgun Control (now the Brady Campaign).
• New York City Comptroller candidate David Yassky. He wrote the Brady Bill when he was an aide to then Congressman Chuck Schumer.
• Middletown Mayor Marlinda Duncanson and Binghamton Mayor Matthew Ryan. Both joined Bloomberg’s MAIG coalition and Duncanson made a big deal about it.
• City of Albany Mayor Gerald Jennings and Councilmen Dominick Calsolaro and James Scalzo. Jennings joined MAIG while Calsolaro & Scalazo sponsored the bills in the Common Council.
• Suffolk County Legislator Kate Browning and Brookhaven Town Boardmember Jane Bonner. They are responsible for attempts to close the trap & skeet range.

Turnout is always low for primaries which is why incumbents hate them. It is important to get as many gunnies to show up and vote as possible, especially in NYC where we have a realistic shot at knocking out Aborn & Yassky. We have members and clubs in NYC and they can vote too. Duncanson lost party backing and we have a decent shot at getting rid of her as well.

Jacob J. Rieper, Vice President of Legislative & Political Affairs New York State Rifle & Pistol Association http://www.nysrpa.org

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York.

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

TROY, NY – -(AmmoLand.com)- Twenty nine competitors traveled to the Iroquois Rod & Gun Club in Rotterdam, NY on July 18th and 19th for the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association’s 2009 International Rifle Festival competition. Some of the state’s finest competitors took part in this event – including 2008 Olympian Sandy Fong. Both smallbore rifle (.22 caliber) and air rifle matches were conducted under international rules, with medals awarded in both the Scholastic class (under age 21) and Open class (age 21 or over).

Notable performances included the battle between Justin Tracy (Farmington, NY) and Terry Glenn (Auburn, NY) for the Open class gold medal in the smallbore rifle prone event. Justin edged out Terry by a single point — 1173 vs. 1172 – to take gold medal honors. Chelsea-O Halliday (Corinth, NY) took Scholastic gold medal honors with an 1141 total.

Heather Tillson (Galway, NY) garnered gold medal honors in the Open 3-position (prone, kneeling, standing) smallbore rifle competition with a 1096 total. Steve Hahn (Middle Grove, NY) fired the same score to take gold medal honors in the Scholastic class.

In the air rifle competition, Sandy Fong (New York, NY) fired a 577 total to take the gold medal in the Scholastic class. In the Open class, competitor Heather Tillson easily took the gold medal with a 576 total.

The Festival was fortunate to have a dedicated and experienced statistical staff. Marie Hahn, Ted and Tom Helveston, and Kate Meyer evaluated approximately 3,000 record shots to determine the medalists for the Festival.

The NYSRPA thanks the competitors and staff for making the 2009 International Rifle Festival a success!

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York.

New York State Rifle and Pistol Association

TROY, NY – -(AmmoLand.com)- The State legislature has passed companion bills A-8302A and S-5500A allowing for permanent big game rifle hunting in Madison County.

Last year the legislature approved a one-year trial period for rifle hunting in the county.

The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association thanks Assemblyman William Magee and Senator David Valesky for sponsoring these bills, and we encourage Gov.

Paterson to sign them promptly so the law will be in effect during this fall’s hunting season.

About:
The New York State Rifle & Pistol Association is the state’s largest and oldest firearms advocacy organization. Since 1871, our organization has been dedicated to the preservation of Second Amendment rights, firearm safety, education and training, and the shooting sports. Our membership consists of individuals and clubs throughout the state. We are a not-for-profit 501(c)4 organization and the official NRA-affiliated State Association in New York.