I want to personally thank you for signing my on-line petition in support of repealing and replacing New York’s unconstitutional and restrictive new gun control law.  The positive response from Second Amendment supporters has been overwhelming and truly encouraging!  I personally appreciate your standing strong and standing with me in defending America’s “first freedom.”

 

Our petition has received more than 124,000 signatures since it was launched just a few weeks ago.  I believe that this tremendous outpouring of grassroots support for our Constitutional freedoms has sent a very powerful message in support of the Second Amendment.  I will personally deliver the petitions to Governor Cuomo and the Legislative Leaders.

 

In order to build additional grassroots support for this effort, I am asking that you please forward this e-mail to one other person who supports the Second Amendment and request that they sign our on-line petition.

 

I will be introducing legislation that would repeal and replace the unconstitutional provisions of the new gun control law.  Once my legislation has been formally introduced in the Senate I will post it on my Facebook page.  While there are no guarantees of the legislation’s passage, I believe that we must make the effort to try and repeal the unconstitutional new gun control law.

 

Again, thank you for signing our petition and for continuing to stand strong with me in support of our Second Amendment Constitutional freedoms.  You can always visit my Facebook, and follow me on Twitter for the latest news regarding our efforts to preserve and protect the Second Amendment.

 

Thank you!

 

Kathleen Marchione

 

188 State Street

Legislative Office Building, Room 306

Albany, NY 12247

Phone: (518) 455-2381

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Thank you for your recent e-mail expressing support for the Second Amendment and protecting the Constitutional rights of all law-abiding gun owners.  I was glad to hear from you on this important issue and I value your opinion.

 

I want to let you know how much I appreciate your patience in hearing back from me directly on this critical issue.  Our office actually began receiving a very high volume of e-mails, phone calls and letters regarding the Second Amendment back in the first week of January when our Senate e-mail account was first activated!  Because so many of the messages were heartfelt, I wanted to take the time and make sure you received a thoughtful response.  I realize this is a lengthy reply, so I appreciate you reading it through to completion.

 

Let me begin by assuring you of my continued, strong support for the Second Amendment.  I believe that our Constitutional right to keep and bear arms truly is America’s first freedom and must be preserved and protected.

 

On Monday night (January 14), during the opening day of our 2013 Legislative Session – and in my first formal floor vote as a Member of the New York State Senate – I opposed legislation that weakened the Second Amendment Constitutional freedoms of gun owners.  Not only did I vote against this new restrictive, unconstitutional gun control legislation, I stood up and spoke out against it.  You can view my remarks on the Senate floor and my comments immediately after we voted by clicking this link: http://tinyurl.com/bevcyom.

 

More gun control laws are not the answer to stopping violent crime.  Instead of enacting more laws that needlessly curtail the Constitutional rights of gun owners, the focus should be on stopping dangerous criminals who use a firearm – usually obtained illegally – in the commission of a crime.  Criminals are the problem, NOT lawful gun owners!  You can read my formal statement opposing the gun control measure by clicking this link: http://tinyurl.com/byusoun.

 

I do support legislation that would significantly increase penalties on dangerous criminals who use guns.  We need to send a clear message to all criminals: commit a crime with a firearm, and you will go to jail for a very long time.  Such a common sense, enforcement-first approach has proven effective in stopping crime and protecting citizens.  In addition, I believe that we need to seriously and carefully examine the issue of mental health to ensure that firearms do not fall into the hands of individuals who are seriously ill and pose a clear and present danger to themselves or others.

 

It is time for an honest and adult conversation about the issue of mental health and the availability of mental health services for individuals and families who are in crisis.  Also, we need to stress character education and non-violent conflict resolution in our schools, while making sure our schools are as safe as humanly possible.  Such a comprehensive approach will help prevent future tragedies. 

 

The vote on Monday, January 14, was really just the beginning of an important debate. 

 

I believe we need to repeal and replace parts of the new gun control legislation and keep the sections pertaining to increased penalties on criminals, use of illegal guns, securing our schools and addressing the seriously mentally ill.  I am currently working on legislation to accomplish these goals.  However, I cannot do it alone.  I need your help.

 

I am asking Second Amendment supporters like you to continue standing strong and to stand with me.  I launched an on-line legislative petition on my Senate page to build public support for repealing and replacing the restrictive new gun control.  You can sign our petition by clicking this link: http://www.nysenate.gov/webform/stand-second-amendment-standing-new-york-state-senator-kathleen–marchione.

 

In less than six days our on-line petition passed 100,000 signatures!  If you have not yet had an opportunity to do so, please go to our petition TODAY and add your name.  If you have already signed our petition, THANK YOU!  Please encourage your family, friends and anyone else who supports the Second Amendment to do so.

 

If every New Yorker who supports the Second Amendment makes their voices heard, we can forge a true public safety remedy that does not curtail the Second Amendment.  The more signatures our petition receives, the better our chances of seeing real change happen.  I will personally deliver these petitions to Governor Cuomo and the Legislative Leaders.

 

I realize many are disappointed that the restrictive and unconstitutional new gun control law was enacted.  However, now is not the time to be dispirited or sit on the sidelines.  Now is the time for every gun owner, hunter, sportsman and supporter of the Second Amendment to be heard!  Again, thank you for sharing your views and for reading my response.  Please continue to stay in touch.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Kathleen A. Marchione

New York State Senator, 43^rd District