More than 1,200 plaintiffs have joined a lawsuit filed against the state claiming passage of New York's new gun control laws was unconstitutional. The suit alleges Governor Cuomo and legislative leaders violated the mandate that requires a three-day waiting period for bills to be voted on. The three-day review was bypassed when the legislature passed a "message of necessity," typically used in cases of emergency.
"We put rules in there to make it harder for them to slide things by us. One of those rules is the three-day [rule]," said lead plaintiff Robert Schulz of Queensbury in Warren County.
Schulz says there was no such "need for speed" and the action was taken to avoid public input. He calls the entire process "a sham."
"They passed the bill in 20 minutes," said Schulz. "This is a king with his opinions and an acquiescent parliament."
The plaintiffs include three county sheriffs and several county legislators. Attorneys for the governor and legislative leaders have been called to court on March 11 to address the complaint.
Cuomo had no comment Friday.
