MOU Falls Short of True SAFE Act Reform
(Long Island, NY) Senator Marc Panepinto (D-Buffalo) slammed Republican Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan today for failing to enact true SAFE Act reform. It comes following the announcement of a Memorandum of Understanding between the elected Senate GOP Leader and New York State Director of Operations Jim Malatras late Friday afternoon. The MOU includes an agreement to suspend portions of the SAFE Act that created a statewide database.
Senator Panepinto, who co-sponsored and voted in favor of common sense SAFE Act reforms, said the agreement fell short of true reform:
“As a duly elected public official who co-sponsored and voted for common sense SAFE Act reform, I am deeply concerned by this latest development. The agreement signed today by State Director of Operations Jim Malatras and Senate Majority Leader Flanagan is little more than an attempt to divert attention from the Senate Republican’s failure to bring about real change this legislative session. New Yorkers deserve true SAFE Act reform. It is imperative that my fellow elected lawmakers work together to truly enact these necessary changes once and for all.”
Senator Panepinto has cosponsored the following pieces of SAFE Act reform legislation:
- S.612 BOYLE – “Defend Our Homes Act”
- S.3373 GALLIVAN – Authorizes the transfer of legally possessed and validly registered weapons to stay in families through estate planning.
- S.3377 GALLIVAN – Expands “immediate family” language in SAFE Act to include siblings, grandparents, and grandchildren.
- S3378 GALLIVAN – Makes all personal information regarding pistol licensees confidential except to law enforcement and requests concerning a named individual.
Senator Panepinto also previously voted against S.2050 which would have unconstitutionally stripped away a resident’s rights to own a long rifle. The bill was defeated 9-7 in the Codes Committee.
Senator Panepinto represents the 60th Senate District, which includes parts of the City of Buffalo as well as communities in both the Northtowns and the Southtowns of Western New York.
