On May 30th, Assembly Bill 10503 and its companion Senate Bill 9458 bill were introduced to require a license to purchase or sell any semi-automatic rifle. This license, if required, would have to be renewed every 5 years. Failure to comply with the bill would result in a class E felony, which under New York law means imprisonment for up to 4 years.
These dangerous bills begin the process in the Codes Committee of their chamber of introduction: AB 10503 is in the Assembly Codes Committee and SB 9458 is in the Senate Codes Committee.
These restrictions are about the same debate we’ve heard for decades here in America. It is unfortunate that emotion often rules the roost in such policy discussions, while basic reason and facts are all too often left in the dust.
Semi-automatic rifles have been used by hunters for more than a century. These firearms aren’t “machine guns” or “weapons of war,” but operate as other firearm actions do, firing a round of ammunition with each pull of the trigger. While anti-gun zealots continue to vilify semi-automatics in their relentless quest to diminish our freedom and heritage, semi-automatic rifles remain extremely popular with American sportsmen.
“These are very troubling bills that will turn hunters into criminals while dampening future firearm ownership with extreme restrictions and strict punishments,” explained Dillon Barto, Manager of State Services for the Sportsmen’s Alliance. “Hunters have to be heard on this legislation.”
Sportsmen should contact their Assemblymen, Senators, and both Codes Committees to voice their opposition to this extreme legislation. Emails should be sent to:
Assembly Codes Committee:
Chairman Jeffrey Dinowitz: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Jeffrey-Dinowitz/contact/
Assembly Member Thomas J. Abinanti: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Thomas-J-Abinanti/contact
Assembly Member Robert C. Carroll: CarrollR@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Vivian E. Cook: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Vivian-E-Cook/contact
Assembly Member Catalina Cruz: cruzc@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Steven Cymbrowitz: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Steven-Cymbrowitz/contact
Assembly Member Joseph M. Giglio: GiglioJ@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Andrew Hevesi: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Andrew-Hevesi/contact/
Assembly Member Charles D. Lavine: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Charles-D-Lavine/contact/
Assembly Member John K. Mikulin: mikulinj@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Michael Montesano: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Michael-Montesano/contact/
Assembly Member Angelo J. Morinello: morinelloa@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Daniel J. O’Donnell: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Daniel-J-O%27Donnell/contact/
Assembly Member J. Garry Pretlow: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/J-Gary-Pretlow/contact/
Assembly Member Michael Reilly: reillym@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Linda B. Rosenthal: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/Linda-B-Rosenthal/contact/
Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright: SeawrightR@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Michael Tannousis: tannousism@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Clyde Vanel: vanelc@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member Latrice Walker: WalkerL@nyassembly.gov
Assembly Member David I. Weprin: http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/David-I-Weprin/contact/
Senate Codes Committee:
Chairman Jamaal Bailey: senatorjbailey@nysenate.gov
Senator Fred Akshar: http://www.nysenate.gov/senators/frederick-j-akshar-ii/contact
Senator Alessandra Biaggi: biaggi@nysenate.gov
Senator Jabari Brisport: brisport@nysenate.gov
Senator Jeremy Cooney: cooney@nysenate.gov
Senator Patrick M. Gallivan: http://www.nysenate.gov/senators/patrick-m-gallivan/contact
Senator Todd Kaminsky: kaminsky@nysenate.gov
Senator Brian Kavanagh: kavanagh@nysenate.gov
Senator Zellnor Myrie: myrie@nysenate.gov
Senator Tom O’Mara: http://www.nysenate.gov/senators/thomas-f-omara/contact
Senator Anthony H. Palumbo: palumbo@nysenate.gov
Senator Diane J. Savino: http://www.nysenate.gov/senators/diane-j-savino/contact
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense capability possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
