By Roger Katz
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo hates guns, all kinds of guns…with a passion. His vehement disdain for these inanimate objects rests on the ground that, as he perceives it, they serve no legitimate or useful purpose.
Guns do kill, of course. That fact can’t be denied. But, there is a huge difference between guns in the hands of criminals and lunatics, on the one hand, and guns in the hands of law-abiding, trained individuals, on the other. That’s a world of difference that anti-gun zealots don’t seem to recognize or appreciate; or, if they do, then it is something they simply refuse to acknowledge.
Criminals and lunatics use guns to threaten and destroy innocent life. Law-abiding, rational citizens use guns to thwart threats by criminals and lunatics, in order to protect their lives and those of other innocents.
The mainstream media and anti-gun zealots invariably conflate the two or otherwise skirt this critical difference. Why? Because drawing attention to a clear and obvious difference between misuse of guns by criminals and lunatics on the one hand, and the proper, lawful use of guns for self-defense by the law-abiding citizen, on the other hand, doesn’t fit the false and shameless narrative they wish to convey: that no concrete difference exists between proper lawful use and improper illegal use of firearms.
Thus, Cuomo and other radical leftists refuse even so much as to acknowledge the benefits a firearm affords the average law-abiding citizen. After all, they have a fairy tale to tell the public — that a citizen who is armed with a gun is somehow less safe when they’re confronted by an assailant.
Removing firearms from the hands of the average, honest, rational, law-abiding American citizen is their raison d’etre. So Cuomo and the leftist elements that comprise anti-gun groups continue their call for ever more restrictive gun laws, weaving a fable. A fable that’s consistent with both the tenets of collectivism and with their own warped political, social, and ethical views of society and of the role and place of the citizen in it.
The Second Amendment is an anathema to them. Thus, they seek its destruction. It is the American citizenry itself that anti-gun zealots like Cuomo seek to disarm, not the criminal element.
The plain fact of the matter is that Cuomo and other so-called progressives don’t truly consider the Bill of Rights to be a salient component of the Constitution. Yet the first ten amendments must be taken together, as the Framers intended, as one unified whole, and an integral and critical component of the Constitution.
Cuomo and those who agree with is political and social philosophy play with the Bill of Rights, pretending that they are, in their inception, nothing more than man-made constructions, not unlike any Congressional statute. But this is the tacit assumption and fiction that informs all the policy decisions and aims of Governor Cuomo and other radical leftists who hold to, and place their faith in the tenets of collectivism.
Cuomo and others who express his sentiments reject the Second Amendment out-of-hand. But the right to keep and bear arms is a critical component of the Constitution, one without which a free republic would not long exist. Yet Cuomo and others of his political persuasion couldn’t care less about the Constitution, even as they exclaim, disingenuously and hypocritically, that they do.
New Yorkers and Americans must not forget that Cuomo’s obsession with civilian gun ownership isn’t something he concocted out of the blue. It didn’t happen yesterday. Having been able to use his state as a test-bed for his radical anti-gun policies to play out, Cuomo’s assaults on on the Second Amendment date back to his first term in office.
As reported by the Observer . . .
“One of the most hotly anticipated elements of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s annual State of the State address today [to the New York Legislature, delivered on Jan 9, 2013] was his plan to enact ‘sweeping’ gun control reforms in New York. In his speech, the governor outlined a seven-point gun control plan focused on “high-capacity assault rifles” that he promised would be one of the ‘toughest’ in the nation and lead similar laws to spread beyond New York.
The governor outlined the items on his seven-point gun plan.
‘Number one: Enact the toughest assault weapon ban in the nation, period!’ he shouted, before ticking off his other new gun control proposals. ‘Number two, close the private sale loophole by requiring federal background checks. Number three, ban high-capacity magazines. Number four, enact tougher penalties for illegal gun use, guns in school grounds and violent gangs. Number five, keep guns from people who are mentally ill. Number six, ban direct internet sales of ammunition in New York. Number seven, create a state [National Instant Criminal Background Check System] check on all ammunition purchases.’
To this seven-point list, we can now add an eighth:
On Monday, February 25, 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Red Flag Bill into law at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He was joined by many of his colleagues in New York State government, and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to celebrate this new legislation, the first in the nation of its kind. . . .
Mr. Cuomo predicted the rest of the country will follow New York’s lead and adopt stiffer gun laws. Cuomo never intended his anti-gun agenda to be confined to the Empire State. His agenda was always much more ambitious.
On October 30, 2015, The New York Times declared, in an article titled, “Cuomo Planning Role in National Gun Control Campaign,” that Cuomo anticipated national attention.
‘The political climate is right again for action,’ said Mr. Cuomo, who has endorsed Hillary Rodham Clinton for president. He added, ‘The appetite is there, I think, in the presidential election, especially in the Democratic primary but also in the general election.’
Well, that didn’t come to pass and Cuomo obviously never forgave Donald Trump for having had the audacity to win the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, thereby dashing his hope of implementation of a national SAFE Act.
As we’ve already seen, the incessant, vicious, virulent attacks on the Second Amendment are a significant factor in the upcoming 2020 presidential election. And Cuomo will, no doubt, be cheering the candidates on, all the way.
Speaking of just making things up ….
Florida Dem. candidate drops out after making bogus claims of removing 77 boolits from Pulse victims – ( No record of her being a doctor )
Fox news
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dems-campaign-pulse-shooting
She’ll just try stickier spaghetti next time.
In the olden days, a woman like this would be beaten up by her community as a public punishment, then forced to live out past the outskirts if town alone in poverty for the rest of her life. But now we all have the ‘freedom’ to lie without consequence so long as it isn’t directed at the government. Ain’t ‘freedom’ grand?
“Guns do kill, of course. That fact can’t be denied.”
Interesting. Of all my guns, and all those within my family going back at least four generations that I know about, not a single one has ever killed anyone. A few have been used to kill (legally hunt) deer or elk, and a few have been used to kill (legally eradicate) the occasional gopher, rabbit, ground squirrel, raccoon, or other destructive pest.
So I guess the “undeniable fact” is up for debate, depending upon which lens you’re looking through.
In the last decade, only my pump pellet rifles and polyisoprene band powered speargun have taken any lives. The first for rat control after more “humane” measures such as traps and poison had failed and the latter for putting food on the table.
As the T-shirt says, “Guns Don’t Kill People. I Do.” Guns can be used to kill people, but they aren’t animated. Someone has to be making the decision to pull the trigger.
“Polyisoprene”? GTFO! You made that up!
“The leader of the Seminole County Democratic Party told The New York Post they were suspending support “until she provides transcripts, diplomas, licenses, letters from employers and proof of her involvement in the Pulse tragedy.””
What?!? A (D)emocrat who is being forced to provide evidence to prove her lies? Whats the world coming to?
No birth cert or other evidence of citizenship though.
Just means they currently view her as more of a political liability than an asset.
Literally translated- “shit, we got caught again”!
If you notice, the only individual liberties these guys support are the ones which pose no threat to the government. The BOR was not the final word on rights of course, but the reason these ‘new’ rights were promoted was so people wouldn’t notice losing all their practical political power as they celebrate social justice. Case in point, California; so progressive and with so many “freedoms” that didn’t exist originally, yet controlled by incompetent and unaccountable one party rule, crushing tax and legal burdens, an economy wrapped around the axle of regulations, and a corrupt ballot initiative process that short cuts every safeguard in a republic system meant to protect minority interests from being steamrolled.
The “freedoms” and “rights” leftists support usually involve moving society toward dependence on government for basic needs of life. If you can’t feed yourself, you are only as free as the entity which supports you allows you to be. Those who understand this will be (or fancy they will be) Inner Party in the new world order.
“New York Governor Andrew Cuomo hates guns, all kinds of guns.” Not entirely true. He loves guns that protect his Socialist/Progressive/Anti-American a$$. He only hates guns in the hands of the Free Little People that are likely to tire of his tyrannical ways and implement the Second Amendment for its intended purpose..
Living in NY can be quite a drag, but it helps to know that my gun collection, even tame as it is, is a source of endless vexation and annoyance to our esteemed governor. FUAC.
^This. What leftists hate is effective opposition to them acquiring more power.
Biggie was more convincing when he talked about banging the girlfriend a Knicks player….
I have a dream. I would love to saltwater fish in the lower Sierras and the foothills of Appalachia.
Mine is to have oceanside property… in Arizona Bay.
I do believe if my dream of fishing in the Sierras comes true, you WILL have a house on the Arizona bay.
Commifornia and mexico will be a new fish habitat reef.
In fact, I think South America will be a continent without a land bridge to the US. Wow. No more caravans of people walking into the US.
Go global warming!!!
The only problem is rising sea levels would give the parasites time to leave the infected hosts and spread.
Still counting on that damn fault line!
CWT, current story is there will be no such adjustment period, global catastrophe is upon us almost instantly! It’s like a miracle! It’s almost as if they made the whole thing up! If we build a wall, possibly we can get them trapped on Mexico City Island, before they can vote in the 2020 elections.
Lets start with the number one issue of Cuomo’s {el Duce} hate of guns (esp. anything that looks military). He is a sniveling little coward, a yellow POS that never mustered the courage to serve (even for politikal gain). He believes it is his right to place himself above the law to accomplish his goals for power. He will send others into harms way to enforce his warped view of our Constitution while he safely sits in his well defended office — defended by men/women with guns.
You just described every president since Bush 1… and probably every major candidate this election.
I can describe the rulers in one word or less. “Evil”
” … His vehement disdain for these inanimate objects rests on the ground that, as he perceives it, they serve no legitimate or useful purpose.” The same can be said about self-serving politicians.
You could insert the word “politicians” every place where “guns” appear and still have a valid statement of fact.
“Anti-Gun Politicians Have a Fairy Tale to Tell the Public”
“Fairy tale”, that’s a nice way to put it…
Funny, these same people have no trouble seeing the difference between commuting to work and drunk driving causing death. (until they get rid of all the guns and cars become the next scapegoat)
Their play is to get rid of gasoline. Living in your (immobile) car is a viable lifestyle choice. Then you can get a coal powered (electric) car or scooter for mobility. They have stupid fully covered.
That Coumo is still in office is very telling of the mindset of NYC voters. If it were up to the other half ‘upstate’ he would have never made it in to office. Creepy Guido !!
They did elect DiBlasio after all.
New York is our Venezuela. Everyone in Venezuela cries for help, but who “elected” the “fearless leader” in power? Not me, maybe those under the yoke ?
“… that no concrete difference exists between proper lawful use and improper illegal use of firearms…”
The WA State Insurance Commissioner has made it ILLEGAL for NRA and USCCA to sell insurance in the state because this is his opinion. He contends that their insurance is specifically designed to cover criminal acts.
Do you have a reference, I’m not arguing, just trying to understand. As I recall New York considers USCCA an association of members where some of those members share litigation costs, but not an insurer, so the insurance commissioner has no jurisdiction.
Until NY splits into 2 states it will never be a free state.
Il Duce will stay until death or term limitations.
I feel for my former state mates.
I prefer his >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> limit more.
Ask the SOB what happens to animal conservation when hunting stop if he and his cohorts get their unconstitutional way? Most letists answer that question by asking, “What do you mean?’. Everybody else covered the other point fairly well.
Even anti gun England lets the hunters have a 2-shot shotgun. I believe in Canada you have to store your handgun at your local police station.
What a coincidence, we find that you have no useful purpose!
“But the right to keep and bear arms is a critical component of the Constitution, one without which a free republic would not long exist.”
This is why they want to destroy the 2nd Amendment and the Constitution as a whole. They don’t want a free republic to exist. They (leftist politicians) want the U.S. to be an Oligarchy in which they are the ruling class and everyone else is their subject and servant. They hate guns and gun owners because they fear us and know we are the final roadblock on their path to unchecked power.
“Anti-Gun Politicians Have a Fairy Tale to Tell the Public”
Well yes, of course they do. This is not limited though to just Dems or Libbies. All parties, all factions do this one their preferred hot button emotional triggering issues. It is this unreasoning, herd-like behavior that has me rejecting all political parties and factions.
“Guns do kill, of course. That fact can’t be denied. ”
That statement is utter nonsense. It is outrageous to see it uttered from a pro-gun/Second Amendment “defender”. Humans kill, using a variety of weapons and tools. No weapon or tool ever harmed anyone, the human’s wielding them did so. Only humans have thought, awareness, mobility, the capacity to take action, to apply force. All weapons and tools can do is, well, nothing at all but lay there awaiting the laws of physics and human cognition to create some sort of act.
It is an old sort of rule I suppose that guns do not kill, people do. It is also a critical point in understanding the vast gulf of understanding and reasoning when the different cultural and political factions are discussing what to do about human violence.
While I see many topics on which to reject the political right wing, on this one the political left wing is severely the most dysfunctional. To then read Second Amendment defenders speaking the anti-gun line is disheartening to say the least.
The gov. truly is evil.
Cuomo said people like me are not welcome in the state of New York. That is why I don’t spend money there and will never visit it and spend tourists money there.
Cuomo is a divisive politician who blames his political opponents of being the exact thing he is. Then he wants to disarm them. I wonder why?
I’m still waiting for one of these inanimate objects to hope up and shoot someone, so guns can really be declared evil. HINT: Ain’t gonna happen. Guns require someone behind the trigger to pull it. So, guns aren’t “evil”. It’s the nutjobs behind the trigger. Why not get Odumma, and the rest of the demoncrabs to outlaw people! That would solve the gun problem.
SGT Preston: No! They want to make outlaws out of people and it’s already happening via the useless laws!
Maybe one of those smart guns will flunk the final exam and go kill someone.
Speaking of Fairytales:
Guns DO NOT kill. People do.
There is no such thing as ‘Gun Violence’. There is only criminal violence.
Agreed.
No weapon of any sort has ever in all of human history suddenly had the thought to get up, go out and shoot somebody. Guns do not rob banks, murder ex-wives, stick up liquor stores, carry out home invasions or drive by shootings of rival gang members.
People do all that and very much more.
Guns just lay there, being the inanimate objects that they are.
CUOMO’S A DEEP STATE COCONSPERATOR WORKING WITH THEM TO OVERTHROW THE CITIZEN GOVERNMENT OF THIS NATION AND THE SITTING PRESIDENT THAT’S THEIR ONLY REASON FOR GUN CONTROL OVER LAWABIDING GUN OWNERS SO THEY CAN DICTATE AND PROMOTE SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM!!😉🤨🤔👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Your statement is backed up by history, over and over again.
If they hate guns so much, they should give up their security details and exchange them for Ninjas with Katanas dressed in black….and then see them mowed down by some smartely armed modern weapons. That included salivating Mario “Mad Dog Face” Cuomo. Are his hemorrhoids hurting so bad all the time he can’s think straight after wiping his brains off his butt?
If as you say, guns do kill, using your idiotic thinking, so do cars, doctors, food and any other thing in the world. Stfu.
Okay, Cuomo’s a strong-arm bully. But at least he got the trains to run on time.
Oh, wait. That was Mussolini. It’s so hard to tell one fascist pig from another.
The fascist pigs themselves seem to sort it out well enough, though.
ANTIFA: We’re not brownshirts! See, we’re wearing black and red.
“that no concrete difference exists between proper lawful use and improper illegal use of firearms.”
Be careful of this statement. To anti-gunners, they hear that as “all gun owners are potential criminals.” That, of course, is one of the big pushes — because you can’t tell the very few who will commit mass shootings (the current PR hot button) from the great masses of responsible gun owners.
Every politician should have to red the Constitution and have a dictionary. If my wife hits me with a rolling pin. the rolling pin is an ASSAULT weapon. Is a revolver an assault weapon? I trigger pull, one round. An AR15 (which I do not own) is a semi automatic. one trigger pull, one round. Learn the language and knoe what you are talking about. Looks don’t make the difference. The reason for the second amendment is for citizens to protect themselves from a tyranical Govt. I’ve seen bumper stickers that say “I love my country but I fear my Gov.” I’m starting to feel that way myself. Sad!
I’d have more respect for him if he’d unilaterally disarm the police and fire all his body guards.
In the end it won’t matter. When the Hunger Games become a reality within the next decade even his guard detail won’t be able to save him. He’ll probably be eaten by hungry cannibals not long after Bill de Blasio