Pataki takes aim on New York's legal gun owners
 
(The following is a copy of an email sent by the President of SAFE alerting those on SAFE's email alert list to a very serious situation taking place in Albany. If you would like to receive these alerts click here.)
To All,
GET UP---GET OFF YOUR ASS---AND GET TO WORK
 
The purpose of this e-mail is to alert you to a very serious situation. And if you just sit there and say that's interesting and I hope it does not come to pass then please, by return e-mail ask me to remove you from the SAFE e-mail alert system. Because you are not doing anything anyway and that is not what this list is for. It is for people who want to know what is going on and what they can do to help prevent bad legislation or help pass good legislative proposals. Read what follows and TAKE ACTION NOW!

In an attempt to generate revenue and close the state`s enormous budget gap, ( that is what is claimed but I don't believe it)Governor George Pataki (R) has included in his Executive Budget a proposal that singles out, and seeks to profit from and punish, law-abiding gun owners. The provision in budget bills S. 6056/A. 9556 will require handgun licensees to pay an additional $100.00 "certification" fee to the state, would also institute a five-year expiration period for all licenses issued statewide (currently most jurisdictions issue lifetime licenses), and would charge an additional fee of $25.00 for each handgun you own or would like to own. Additionally, this proposal would remove the limitations in law on local processing fees, which means all counties could raise their fees to what ever level they like. Name a county that would not take advantage of this provision and the people in it. Nassau County immediately comes to mind. As a matter of fact, every single county that already has the power to raise fees on handgun licensing HAS DONE IT. You can get good odds in Vegas that fees can and will climb, and in many jurisdictions would price gun owners, sportsmen, and collectors completely and totally right out of the market. Instead of directly banning handguns, this proposal would simply make it too expensive to own them. In other words the safest, the most scrutinized and accountable, the most law-abiding citizens in the state are the only ones being punished under this latest Pataki's proposal (assault). You must take action now!!!
Please call (518) 474-8390 and write to Governor Pataki at Executive Chamber, State Capitol, Albany, NY 12224 or fax him at 518-474-1041 and 212-681-4595 to express your opposition to his latest unprovoked and unjustified attack on gun owners. It is also critical that you contact your NYS Assembly member and Senator TODAY to tell them that they must oppose this unfair "TAX" on gun owners! To get contact information for your representatives, please use the "Write your Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org or use the links provided to your representatives on our web site.
 
John L. Cushman
Semper Fidelis (always faithful)
Semper Vigilante (always vigilant)