2nd Amendment group urges noncompliance with SAFE Act

A citizens group that formed after the state passed the SAFE Act last January is urging noncompliance with the gun control legislation.

New York Revolution opposes the SAFE Act, and urged gun owners to take a “will not comply” attitude with the new law.

“The SAFE Act is purely unconstitutional, as it does not allow citizens of New York to purchase many guns that are widely popular throughout the country and much more strictly punishes the law abiding gun owners of the state,” said Gia Arnold of Holley, state-wide coordinator for NY Revolution.

A federal judge on Tuesday upheld most of the provisions of the SAFE Act, but rejected a restriction from the SAFE Act that banned more than seven bullets in a firearm.

Judge William Skretny in Buffalo upheld the SAFE Act’s bans on large-capacity magazines and the sale of some semi-automatic rifles. Skretny said the SAFE Act was constitutional because of the “important governmental interest” in public safety.

The law “applies only to a subset of firearms with characteristics New York state has determined to be particularly dangerous and unnecessary for self-defense,” Skretny wrote. “It does not totally disarm New York’s citizens, and it does not meaningfully jeopardize their right to self-defense.”

In striking down the restriction on magazines with no more than seven bullets, Skretny said that a seven-bullet limit was “an arbitrary number.”

Arnold of Holley said NY Revolution wants to unseat Andrew Cuomo as governor in this November’s election. The group will work to engage more citizens in the political process, trying to pressure Albany to repeal the law, Arnold said.

“We would like to see a big change in Albany next year, and will work throughout 2014 to educate the people on the corrupt politicians voting to take away their freedoms,” she said.