My letter to Governor Cuomo following the passage of NY's gun control bill
Just moments ago the NY State Senate turned its back on NY gun owners by voting 43-18 in favor of the strictest gun control in America. I can at least say my Senator and representative both voted no, but it was not enough to stem the tide and some Republicans were caught up in the moment and voted yes, making many gun owners in this state instant criminals. I penned this letter in only about a minute and I had to keep my seething rage from coming through. I cannot even express how angry I am at this moment, but this is the best I could come up with.
Dear Governor Cuomo,
For the first time in my life I have to say I am ashamed to be a New Yorker. Today my state government has decided that because of the choice of gun I want I am a criminal. I have served nearly the last nine years of my life in law enforcement protecting the public from criminals, and now because I may want a handgun or another firearm that has a magazine over ten rounds I will become the same thing I have sworn to protect the public from. In my career I have suffered an injury that may soon cost me my career, at the hands of a criminal, someone who cares nothing for the law. Yet that does not matter, I apparently am no better than they in the eyes of the state government. Despite the fact I have seen one felon and parolee after the next getting arrested with an illegal firearm plea bargain away their charges, but yet we are told this new bill will be tough on criminals. Sir this is utter nonsense and if anyone has told you otherwise they are mistaken or just delusional. What has been done is not to pass legislation that will be tough on crime, what has been done is that because of hysteria and screaming about how many rounds it takes to kill a deer a bill was rushed through behind closed doors, I'm sure promises were made and deals were struck for future considerations, all the while gun owners in this state were treated as if we all were at Newtown pulling the trigger.
I now must decide what is best for me and my family. I was raised in the Adirondacks originally growing up on the Canadian border. My family has lived in New York since the 1700's but for the first time I am considering leaving the beauty of these mountains for greener pastures where I will not be considered an enemy of the state simply because I choose to own a firearm. I doubt I will be alone. I know that my leaving will probably not trouble you greatly but as someone who has actually served the public in a way you can never truly understand as a law enforcement officer, I cannot serve here any longer when I am asked to protect the public but at the same time be condemned for how I protect myself and my loved ones. I can only hope that come the next election cycle this terrible wrong is righted and the people and gun owners of this state finally stand together and speak loudly at the ballot boxes when this travesty is wiped from the books forever.