Majority Democrats, led by Catherine Borgia, podium,
were joined by supporters of the ban
WHITE PLAINS – By a nine to eight margin majority Democrats on
the Westchester County Board of Legislators voted Monday night to approve
a bill that would prohibit guns shows from being held in county-owned
facilities. There is a gun show planned for later this year at the county
center.
Republicans, meanwhile, proposed alternate legislation that would allow gun shows, but would impose rules that the state has adopted including that a National Instant Criminal Background Check must be completed prior to all firearms sales or transfers.
As for the total ban on county property, County Executive Robert Astorino plans to veto it saying there are safeguards in place for such events.
“There are constitutional issues as well banning one particular vendor or type of show that is legal as well as permitted by the State of New York,” Astorino said. “The governor, who is not a fan of gun rights, is permitting gun shows, the same weekend by the way, in Albany at the state convention center and in the summertime, at the fairgrounds in Syracuse on state property. There is complete inconsistency here for political purposes.”
A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, January 24 at 6:15 p.m. on the GOP proposal to allow gun shows on county property providing certain procedures are followed and enforced.
