Posted on 04/16/2013 12:20:09 PM PDT by Fitzy_888
Syracuse, N.Y. -- The union representing New York State Police say they believe the state's stricter gun laws could put law enforcement officers at risk.
In an email release on Monday, the New York State Troopers PBA said its 6,000-member group "holds widely shared concerns" about the NY Safe Act. Nonetheless, the union takes exception to some state lawmakers accusing the troopers of failing to enforce the law.
"The individual members of this union did not write the terms of the bill nor vote on its passage," the release said. "We urge the citizens of New York state to remember that troopers are simply tasked with the lawful mandate to enforce the laws of the state, regardless of their personal opinion of such laws."
The Safe Act bans certain semi-automatic guns now labeled as assault weapons. Monday was the first day gun owners had to register these assault weapons with the state; a ban on magazines larger than 10 rounds also went into effect Monday.
The troopers are not the first law enforcement group to criticize the Safe Act. The New York State Sheriffs' Association has expressed concern about the likelihood that deputies can enforce certain provisions of the law, including background checks on private gun sales. The sheriffs group also believes many provisions of the law will only increase requirements among those who abide by the law and do little to ward against violent crimes or mass shootings.
Here's the message, in full:
"The NY SAFE Act has been a controversial and emotional topic since its passage in January of 2013. The NYS Troopers PBA, representing more than 6,000 active and retired members, has reserved public comment as we worked within the legislative process of NYS government with the hope of affecting changes to the law. Our membership holds widely shared concerns of this new law. Additionally, we believe that actual enforcement of these new regulations will significantly increase the hazards of an already dangerous job.
"Polls have shown that increased firearm regulations are not popular in the more rural and upstate regions of our state, which is where the majority of our members live and patrol. Additionally, some in mainstream media have already irresponsibly increased the anti-police rhetoric, which fosters additional resentment of law enforcement. Even some of our elected officials, like Senator Ranzenhofer and Assemblyman Gabryszak, are calling for a probe of our members and their efforts to meet the standards of this new law.
"It is the responsibility of this union to defend the reputation and safety of our members. Potential legislative changes as well as pending court decisions may further alter the terms of the SAFE Act. The individual members of this union did not write the terms of the bill nor vote on its passage. We urge the citizens of New York State to remember that Troopers are simply tasked with the lawful mandate to enforce the laws of the State, regardless of their personal opinion of such laws."
Guess it's hard to fashion yourself as elite if your daily toil is without honor. And, what good is that pension if the country you leave your children is despotic?
In other words, don’t shoot us, we’re just the hired stormtroopers.
Looks like they don’t relish the job of taking guns away from pi$$ed-off farmers. Can’t say as I blame ‘em.
“The individual members of this union did not write the terms of the bill nor vote on its passage,” the release said. “We urge the citizens of New York state to remember that troopers are simply tasked with the lawful mandate to enforce the laws of the state, regardless of their personal opinion of such laws.”
Sounds like your union should have spoken up loudly against this idiocy when it was being considered. Now you have a choice, enforce a bad law and possible kill some citizens in the process or they kill you for trying usurping their God given Rights. I imagine some British redcoats had similar thoughts in 1775 marching off to Lexington and Concord to enforce their overlords orders.
So troopers, do you blindly obey your overlords or side with the people and right, the choice is yours.
Now where was that heard before ...
We are lucky that the trooper and sheriffs’ unions are speaking out at all. Cuomo, like the Son o’B ama does, passed this legislation literally in the middle of the night, without discussion or hearings and with the fellatio performing main stream media press running interference.
The WSJ had an excellent editorial a few days ago about how the new state laws making it harder to own a gun came shortly after Heller (DC) and MacDonald (Chicago). The first reaffirmed that gun rights are individual rights, not militia-related, and the second applied that ruling to the states.
Now these politically motivated laws will have to wend their way through the courts, at great public energy and expense, just so blue-state politicians have a popular issue to stand on to get reelected. Energized, of course, by the true goal of the hard-core leftists, to get the guns away so we can’t fight back.
The zinger was the reminder that only once before has there been so much popular rebellion against a Supreme Court decision: Brown v. Board of Education. One striking difference: That time, in an era of less instrusion by the left-wing media, the media was on the side of the Court.
Well, state troopers, the honorable path ahead is clear.
Support the Bill of Rights that all of us can read and understand.
Do not support despotism under color of “law.”
Refuse to participate in gun raids, for any guns that were legal in 2012.
We are just the Storm Troopers... we have to follow hitler’s orders!
LLS
"Just following orders" is NO EXCUSE! If you don't want blowback, then don't enforce a plainly unconstitutional law. Enforce it, and expect blowback. It is that simple.
How hard is it for people to understand that NO ONE likes having their property that is not used in criminal activity STOLEN from them, with a bonus of a prison sentence for mere ownership of an inanimate object???? Really, if you can't take the heat, quit your friggin' job and do something useful for society instead of doing a tyrant's dirty work.
Sorry, I have no tolerance whatsoever for those that enable tyrants by laying out the excuse of, "but I vas just followink ohhhhhders!" That BS went out the door with the Nazi war crimes trials in the late 1940's. QUIT YOUR JOB, no one is forcing you do serve.
And a big phuk eww to any that stay and enforce this crap of Cuomo's. You deserve what you get. The fact that your own union has to come out with a statement means that you guys ALL KNOW what it is you're doing. Don't expect any sympathy from us ordinary citizens who have been turned into a bunch of criminals by a stroke of Adolf Cuomo.
It must be the pits to work somewhere doing a job that gives you reason to wonder if your house will be a pile of smoldering ashes when your shift ends.
“So troopers, do you blindly obey your overlords or side with the people and right, the choice is yours.”
That says it all, sarge83. The troopers can either risk their lives and pensions for the glory of the Nazi Cuomo, or refuse and enjoy a long life with their children. The Nazi prick Cuomo needs to lead the charge with his fat doughnut munchers against the measured sight of hunters and patriots with rifles. Come get your just desserts, Cuomo.
Sums it up
Enforce NY law.
Enforce the Constitution.
Pick one.
“..Pick one.”
Yup.
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