Seward Leads Opposition to Microstamping in State Senate Codes Committee

ALBANY, 06/13/14 -- State Senator James L. Seward (R/C/I – Oneonta) this week was joined by fellow senators in voicing strong opposition to gun control legislation (S.68A/A.3244A) requiring the microstamping of ammunition.

“Microstamping is a flawed technology, easily defeated by criminals, that would only cost law abiding citizens while forcing hefty new expenses on firearms manufacturers like Remington Arms,”said Senator Seward.  “This bill came to the senate floor for a vote in 2010 when New York City Democrats controlled the agenda and I rallied opposition to defeat it.  This year, the gun control bill will not see the light of day.

“Those who support this bill seem to forget – criminals don’t follow the law.  Microstamping would not help police track down lawbreakers who obtain guns illegally, out of state, or file or switch a weapon’s firing pin, all common practices among criminals,” Seward added. 

A majority of the members on the New York State Senate Codes Committee, where the bill has been referred, have added their voices to Senator Seward’s opposition, effectively blocking the proposed legislation.

The measure, if enacted, would effectively end the manufacture of firearms in New York and sales in New York as gun makers would not produce “New York only” weapons for citizens or the police.

Senate Codes Committee Chairman Senator Michael Nozzolio and committee members Senators Phil Boyle, John DeFrancisco, John Flanagan, Patrick Gallivan, Joe Griffo, Andrew Lanza, and Tom O’Mara have all publicly declared their objections to the measure. They were also joined by Senators Cathy Young, Greg Ball, Tom Libous, James Seward, John Bonacic, Patty Ritchie, Kathy Marchione, Bill Larkin, Betty Little, Joe Robach, George Maziarz, Hugh Farley and Mike Ranzenhofer.

After recent anti Second Amendment moves in the state assembly, state senate Democrats are now pushing efforts to move the microstamping bill sponsored by Senator Peralta.

“Here they go again, in an extreme attempt to turn law abiding citizens into criminals, rather than tackling the real criminals. We must unite, in both the senate and throughout the state, to stop this extreme and costly effort. There is not a shred of credible evidence that proves the technology actually works. We will work together to protect the Second Amendment,” they said in a joint statement.