Constitutional liberties would be stripped away with proposal to ban Glock pistols

Editor:

In Albany this week, the Democratic majority put the Public Protection and General Government Bill to the floor for a vote, and despite its deceptive name, this package of bills strips New Yorkers of their freedoms.

This package aims to ban Glocks in New York State – another out-of-touch gun grab championed by Democrats, who understand very little about firearms and even less about the Constitution.

For over 40 years, Glock pistols have been known around the world as some of the most reliable sidearms. They are trusted by police departments and military branches across the globe. Our very own state police issue the Glock 47, and I carry a Glock 43.

Despite their reputation for safety and dependability with individuals and families who rely on these weapons for self-defense and home protection, we’re looking at a bill that will ban the sale of the most reliable, most user-friendly, and one of the most affordable pistols on the market.

Gun owners and licensed dealers have been anxiously watching this bill, and know full-well it has nothing to do with public safety, and everything to do with Democrats acting tough on guns.

In her state of the state address, the governor said pistol converters turn Glocks into “fully automatic machines capable of firing 1,200 rounds per minute.”  Anyone who knows guns knows this line is complete nonsense. It may be factually true that an illegally converted Glock can fire rounds faster than a semi-auto, but let’s look at reality.

In New York State, to legally obtain a Glock, you need a pistol permit – and if you don’t currently have one, there is a long and expensive process ahead of you. On top of that, it is already illegal to purchase or manufacture the so-called Glock Switch. It’s also worth noting, pistols are limited to 10-round magazines.

So tell me, how is a law-abiding gun owner a danger to public safety? By law, the very thing Democrats are trying to prevent is already illegal. I cannot, under current law, modify my Glock to fully automatic, nor load 1,200 rounds into it. Not to mention, having over 1,000 rounds loaded all at once would require a magazine the size of a watermelon.

It’s just not practical, and neither is this bill.

Democrats are targeting one of the largest and most popular gun manufacturers in an election year so it looks like they’ve actually done something. What they’ve done is hurt local gun stores who will no longer be able to sell their number one product, and are continuing to drive business to neighboring states.

The only thing this bill truly accomplishes is stripping New Yorkers of their second amendment rights and Constitutional liberties. But as usual, Democrats in Albany who know nothing about guns and less about the United States Constitution, are more concerned with taking away our freedoms instead of going after criminals.

As a State Senator, a taxpayer, and a gun owner, I am tired of seeing our state place greater burdens on law-abiding citizens than on those who break the law. New Yorkers deserve leaders who will hold criminals accountable and protect public safety without chipping away at the constitutional rights and liberties of responsible citizens.

Rob Ortt

New York State Senate Minority Leader and representative of District 62