Governor Andrew Cuomo found defiance instead of compliance this week in New York as gun owners showed him just what they think of his "SAFE" Act. Tuesday marked the deadline for gun owners to register their "assault weapons" under the anti-gun legislation. But, they had a slightly different way of marking the occasion:
Roughly 70 opponents of the law who gathered outside the Walter J. Mahoney State Office Building in downtown Buffalo late Tuesday afternoon to shred State Police registration forms for assault weapons.
So, why is this law so unpopular? Well, barring the fact that "assault weapon" is merely a political term, the SAFE Act has already resulted in 1,200 felony charges. Turns out New Yorkers don't like legislation that essentially turns them from law-abiding citizens using their right to bear arms one day, and criminals the next.
“They have been shredding the Constitution for years,” said Rus Thompson, who led Tuesday’s rally. “You shred the Constitution, we’ll shred any form you want us to fill out. They can’t arrest a million people. What are they going to do?”
“Nobody is going to comply with this,” added Tim Swedenhjelm, a gun owner and a 30-year range safety officer from Springville. “We don’t call them ‘assault rifles’ because they’re not ‘assault rifles.’ Assault rifles are automatic weapons. These are not automatic weapons. When I hear politicians call them assault rifles, you know they don’t know what they’re talking about.”
It seems not even law enforcement is on the governor's side. Sheriff Timothy B. Howard of Erie County told The Buffalo News that, even though officers are required to report any individuals who don't register their firearms, his deputies aren't exactly going out of their way to do so:
I am not encouraging them to do it. At the same time, their own consciences should be their guide. I am not forcing my conscience on them. That is a decision they should make.”
Earth to Cuomo: You don't respect people's rights, they don't respect you.