New York’s lawmakers and our many leaders outside government have a choice: stand up for public safety, or keep peddling division and fear.
Let’s start with what’s obvious: say “no” to State Senator George Maziarz (R-North Tonowanda) and his bill for a New York-version of Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” the one in the middle of the Trayvon Martin-George Zimmerman trial.
If we change our criminal laws to a vigilante-style “shoot first, ask questions later” policy, we’ll see more weapons used on our streets and our first-responders at greater unnecessary risk every single day.
Senator Maziarz’s bill reminds us that politicians love to pander, misusing legislation just to raise some extra cash and ride the wave of controversial headlines, sometimes all the way to re-election.
Growing up a cop’s son, I think he and his supporters have some nerve trying to make his name off of putting our men and women in blue in even greater danger.
That’s a non-starter, and should be a no-brainer too.
Debating this bill is a ridiculous waste of our time and tax dollars; a distraction from the real concerns working families, like my own, talk about at every kitchen table.
No matter where we live or what we look like, all New Yorkers deserve leaders that understand the difference between public safety and sensationalism.
We need elected officials that we can trust and who actually want to improve our communities’ real problems with real solutions.
We shouldn’t tolerate this kind of irresponsible lawmaking in Albany any more and we should start by making an example of this bill.
Contact State Senator Kemp Hannon and tell him to oppose SB 281.
The senator should be looking out for our safety, not his colleague’s dangerous and wasteful political agenda.
And Senator Maziarz? Cut the bull. Pull the bill.
Kevin Brady
Levittown
