Jun 17, 2013 — People climbed up the bleachers in the grandstand at the Lewis County Fairgrounds in Lowville on Saturday for a rally opposing the New York SAFE Act. More than 400 people turned out to condemn the controversial package of gun control measures passed by the state Legislature in January.  Go to full article

May 06, 2013 — The leader of the Senate Republicans says he regrets the way gun control legislation was rapidly approved earlier this year, and he hopes that the end of the session won't repeat what he now says was a mistake.  Go to full article

Apr 26, 2013 — North Country Congressman Bill Owens says he's disappointed that an effort to expand background checks for gun buyers was voted down in the Senate.

Meanwhile, the Plattsburgh Democrat says he's frustrated that House Republicans are blocking a repeal of the medical device tax contained in 2010's Affordable Care Act.  Go to full article

Mar 26, 2013 — Let's look back now at a story reported late last week. New York state Assembly member Steve McLaughlin of the Capital Region issued a press release taking issue with a state tipline for people to report illegal possession of firearms. McLaughlin said the tipline would pit neighbor against neighbor, and he used it to criticize New York's new gun control laws.

Some North Country lawmakers agreed with him. And comments by these leaders went viral.

We reported about it at NCPR. Then we heard from Governor Cuomo's office, which said the tipline wasn't a new program, and it wasn't part of the New York SAFE Act. It's been in place for the past year.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Mar 22, 2013 — UPDATE: Since broadcast of this story, NCPR has heard from Governor Cuomo's office, saying that the tipline was not created as a way to enforce the NY SAFE law. Here's a statement from Janine Kava, director of public information at the state Division of Criminal Justice Services:

"This program has been in place for more than a year and is aimed only at getting illegal crime guns off the streets: a goal that every New Yorker can agree with."

The New York State Association of Police Chiefs also sent NCPR a letter explaining why police started discussing the tipline this week: "On Tuesday, an e-mail was sent out by the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police to our membership statewide regarding the New York State Gun Tip Line."

The NYSAPC letter explains that law enforcement officials were first made aware of the tipline in Februrary 2012, and discussion of it was revived earlier this week, "The e-mail was the result of a series of ongoing meetings to deal with reducing guns used in crimes in New York State. It had nothing to do with the NY SAFE ACT. In our most recent meeting on Monday afternoon we talked about reviving this tip line and informing our members about it by sending out a message and scheduling a conference call to discuss it."

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Gun rights supporters, and some upstate New York lawmakers, are taking issue with an aspect of the new gun control laws, that rewards people for reporting illegal gun ownership to the state.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Mar 21, 2013 — Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders agreed to a framework for a new state budget last night. It would keep spending increases under two percent while providing tax rebates and breaks over the next two years. The announcement came shortly after 8 o'clock. "I'm pleased to announce this evening that we have a budget agreement in concept," Cuomo said.

They are still working out many of the details, but the governor says leaders hope to be finished passing everything by Sunday.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Mar 20, 2013 — Governor Cuomo confirms that he and legislative leaders are talking about changing the state's newly enacted gun laws to rescind a ban on the sale of 10 bullet magazines.  Go to full article

Elizabethtown, NY, Mar 20, 2013 — Essex County wants the state to repeal the Secure Ammunitions and Firearms Enforcement, or NY SAFE, Act and replace it with measures that are fully vetted by the public.

A resolution demanding the repeal of the new gun law passed 15-2 after a two-and-a-half-hour special meeting at the county courthouse Monday night. A second resolution opposing a proposed bill that would require gun owners to purchase $1 million liability insurance policies passed unanimously.

Essex County joins a growing legion of counties and other municipalities that want the state to repeal the much-maligned law. North Country lawmakers say it's unlikely that the law will be repealed since it had such overwhelming support in the Assembly.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Mar 20, 2013 — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders are talking about amendments to the state's new gun control laws.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, following a closed door meeting with Governor Cuomo and other legislative leaders, said talks are underway to possibly re-legalize possession of 10 bullet magazines -- in some instances.  Go to full article

Albany, NY, Mar 20, 2013 — A new poll finds Governor Cuomo is paying a political price with Republicans in New York for enacting the state's tough new gun laws.  Go to full article