New York State Assemblyman Sean Ryan of Buffalo says the state's new gun law is necessary. Ryan is a hunter and showed off his shotgun to reporters at a news conference in downtown Buffalo Wednesday. "I am a hunter and I am a gun owner," said Ryan. "This is my shotgun and a I know my rights are in no way abridged by the law we passed yesterday."
The Buffalo Democrat was one of few local state legislators to vote for the gun control package, saying it will put controls on gun trafficking and toughen laws on gun crime.
At the same time, Ryan says the new law essentially grandfathers in current gun owners, although pistol permits will have to be renewed every five years.
During the news conference Ryan frequently referred to his two shotguns, which were on display, both with trigger locks.
"If you are like me, or millions of other responsible hunters and sportsman in New York, than the Safe New York Act does nothing to restrict your right of ownership of guns or your right to hunt or pursue recreational activities," said Ryan.
Ryan says a big change requires all gun sales to be checked against a database of convicted criminals, those hit with orders of protection and those with mental health issues.
But Republican State Assembly woman Jane Corwin of Amherst is vowing to fight the state's tough new gun control law.
Corwin tells WBFO News she plans to file legislation calling to make changes in the law.
"I'm already proposing legislation to alter the new law," said Corwin. "So that we can allow for legacy opportunities so people can have their guns...and pass them down through the generations."
Corrwin is preparing a draft of her bill first thing Thursday.
Corwin is convinced the new gun control law will land in the courts.
"I was very disappointed with the path this bill took. there was absolutely no opportunity for public comment," said Corwin. "So really a third of the voices of the state were left out of the construction of this bill and then certainly we didn't have a fair shot of weighing in before the vote."
Corwin accuses democratic lawmakers of negotiating the bill in private. She said they were given no time to review the 85-page document.
Corwin points to pure politics -- she says Governor Cuomo made sure it was approved before President Obama issued his gun control legislation.
"We really haven't had to do anything like that since the Paterson administration when I feel New York was at its lowest point of dysfunction," said Corwin.
