U.S.A. – -(Ammoland.com)- “Andrew Cuomo’s resignation as governor of New York after a series of sexual misconduct accusations has turned a spotlight on his lieutenant governor, Kathy Hochul, who will become the first woman to lead the state in its 233-year history,” Reuters reported Tuesday. “Hochul, a former Democratic congresswoman who has served as lieutenant governor since 2015, will take over from Cuomo until his third four-year term in office ends in December 2022.”
Will it make any difference as far as New York’s relentless attacks against gun owners go? The report offers one instance where she separated herself from the pack:
“Hochul has described herself as an ‘independent Democrat.’ In 2012 she was one of 17 Democrats who joined with Republicans in finding U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for withholding some documents related to a failed gun-running investigation known as Operation Fast and Furious.”
That’s certainly different.
OK, but does it mean she’s less likely to be openly hostile to the right to keep and bear arms? Will she continue her predecessor’s efforts to sue gun manufacturers? Will she be able to exert influence on Attorney General Letitia James’ monomaniacal obsession to destroy the National Rifle Association?
Will she want to?
The On the Issues political positions website just adds to the confusion: It documents Hochul claiming the “State Senate is too afraid of the NRA to vote on a red flag bill.” It then ventures into cognitive dissonance territory by revealing she was given “a top rating by NRA.”
The ubiquitous three-letter acronym beginning with a “W,” followed by a “T” and “F,” and ending with a question mark comes to mind. Is she going to be our pal?
“Kathy Hochul has a proven record of defending the Second Amendment,” former NRA political honcho Chris Cox said back in 2012. “Because of her strong support of our rights, Hochul has earned an ‘A’ rating and endorsement from the NRA-PVF.”
The thing is, Hochul only admitted to being “a staunch advocate for sportsmen,” and to wear an old truism to death, the Second Amendment isn’t about duck hunting. You’ll forgive me if “streamlining” prior restraint permits and easing up on some Fudd infringements don’t strike me as top grade-earning show-stoppers.
Then again, we’re talking Chris Cox here, and what I’ve seen from the guy over the years makes it so that really doesn’t surprise me. (My response to those who want to see him take over NRA: Are you people out of your minds?) And remember, when it comes to political astuteness about female New York politicians, NRA once endorsed Kirsten Gillibrand, and look how she turned out.
So is anyone really surprised to see Hochul and Gillibrand sharing a podium to advance the Democrat agenda? And being a smart and ambitious politician, she’s making sure Nancy Pelosi knows she’s a team player, as well as “the Big Guy” himself.
You don’t advance in the ranks unless they believe you’re a loyal soldier.
There’s no reason outside of wishful thinking to believe Hochul will have any incentive to involve herself in rolling back infringements. There’s every reason to believe she will be ready to exploit highly-publicized abuses with guns to advance both the citizen disarmament agenda and her own career.
The best gun owners can hope for is that it won’t be a pressing priority unless something comes up, and she’ll be so in over her head and busy trying to keep from being overwhelmed that she’ll keep her focus on other things. But if you think she’ll live up to her 2012 rating and “defend the Second Amendment” because of her “strong support for our rights,” have I got a bridge for you.
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” is a regularly featured contributor to Firearms News, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.
Red Flag laws are some of the worst gun control laws.
It’s unpopular to discuss that here, though, because you-know-who likes Red Flag laws.
If someone is truly in a state of mind to kill himself, or others, would they just let the cops come and take their guns?
There are lots of problems with Red Flag laws. For example, it requires that the accused:
Also, there are virtually no penalties (in practical terms) for false accusations.
Of the thousands of people who had their firearms stolen by enforcers (who followed orders) in Florida, how many were committed to mental institutions?
If the people were a danger to themselves or others, why weren’t they committed? Firearms are only one of many ways to cause harm.
Downvoters like Red Flag laws and despise the second and fourth amendments.
This man is of sufficient intelligence to comrehend the evils of “red flag laws”. He is spot on wiith his concise critique of them in general. I don’t “get” why he’s been downvoted. Whoever dissed him with your votes, how about someing back with a cogent and pertinent critique of his thorughts? Come on, now.. gonna disagree, don’t just throw rotten turnips, SAY WHY. HOW is he wrong?
Yet you chide us with sanctimonous Rodney King moral equivalence for confronting the JBT sock puppets who are doing the downvoting. TEX/FORD Will/Will/APG et ilk.
they might break a situationwhere the coppers would come to take his guns, but then do something to provoke the cops to do what HE wants them to do. Thisis not that uncommon. Lots of other ways to off yourself, IF that’s what your twisted brain wants. Consider Canada’s suicide stats. VEY similar in demographics and economic situation, suicide rate by all means is very similar to ours.The difference is that the tool used is very rarely the firearm. WHY? Because that government, in its infinite Whizz Dumb has all but banished them from society, particulalry the most comonly used… Read more »
These state laws violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Gag me with a jackhammer.
I don’t understand people who like Cox.
NRA does have it’s issues with the upper level of management corruption. That needs to be dealt with at some point. The sooner the better & surprised it has gone on as long as it has. This has been known amongst “we the people” for many years. A upper level enema would be a good start to restore American values. Greed & avarice aka Lobby interest’s always corrupt the morally weak.
Agreed. She did not get to be in striking distance of the governer’s chair without passing the democratic litmus test of being Anti-gun, Anti-Second ammendment. At best she is a Fudd supporter.
She has definitely flipped to the anti-2A side:
https://mobile.twitter.com/LtGovHochulNY/status/1374314345090461698
https://mobile.twitter.com/LtGovHochulNY/status/1213110264737853441
https://mobile.twitter.com/LtGovHochulNY/status/1380619901455495171
There are several other posts, but I think this shows enough of her bad side.
Flipped? She was always anti-gun. NRA never learns.
I am a Benefactor Life Member of the NRA and it is time for people like La Pierre and Cox TO GO!!! La Pierre treats the NRA bank account like it is his own personal slush fund and Cox is a MORON! I hope you get this message Wayne and Chris! You both are a part of the problem! Neither of you is a part of the solution!!!
Hochul will turn out to be just as big an asshole as Cuomo. She just has not had her shot yet.