Silver Shortsighted on Safety

Ft. Hamilton Station, NY – “Speaker Silver is beholden to his fellow democrat Assemblyman who elected him Speaker but this same group of men and women are placing the lives of New Yorkers at risk by not passing meaningful legislation to stem the illegal guns flooding the streets and reinstating the death penalty,” said State Chairman Michael R. Long.

This Wednesday’s special session, called by Governor Pataki and supported by Majority Leader Joseph L. Bruno, is poised to pass legislation introduced by Sen. Martin Golden (S. 6020 – which the Conservative Party supports – see legislative memo) to increase the penalties for those who commit crimes against police officers. We hope they will also pass S. 4052 which seeks to stem the tide of illegal guns on the streets of New York. The New York State Conservative Party is a staunch support of Second Amendment rights, and believes that citizens in good standing have the constitutional right to bear arms, however, criminals do not, and they are the ones disregarding every law that has hindered the ownership of guns.

“Criminals must be held responsible for committing crimes with illegal guns and our law enforcement personnel must have the necessary legislation to keep these criminals off the streets,” Long stated. “Additionally, the death penalty must be reinstated in New York State to send a strong message to those who kill our policemen in cold blood. Criminals must know that they will face the death penalty when the commit heinous crimes,” Long continued.

“New York state citizens have the right to believe that their government will do all in their power to protect its law abiding citizens. Speaker Silver shirks this responsibility. Not only does he not protect the law-abiding citizens, Silver’s lack of passing meaningful legislation, protects criminals. Sheldon Silver should read his oath of office again and then explain his decision to protect criminals to the rest of us,” Long concluded.

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