To the Editor:

I want to publicly commend our county Board of Legislators for appointing our county attorney to participate in challenging New York State’s unconstitutional sabotage of our Second Amendment rights. Governor Kathy Hochul and her liberal administration are not hiding the ball – they want to completely dismantle our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. And the so-called “Conceal Carry Improvement Act” is their latest reckless attempt to do just that.

Are you a conceal carry license holder? Well, this law makes you a felon if you carry your sidearm in a “sensitive location” which according to the text of the law includes parks, playgrounds, churches, and every private business (unless that business posts a sign explicitly stating that they allow concealed carry). By design, these restrictions functionally prohibit licensed gun owners from carrying in most contexts, effectively gutting the conceal carry license itself.

At the Sept 26 Board of Legislators meeting, Legislator (Larry) Denesha aptly stated what common sense should tell us all, that this law “…is not going to change the behavior or actions of criminals. The only people these laws are going to impact are law-abiding citizens.” Those who carry concealed in our county do so for their safety and the safety of those around them. Removing the constitutionally guaranteed ability St. Lawrence County citizens to defend themselves will heighten the danger of an unmitigated active-shooter event in our community.

In addition to its self-defense function, the Second Amendment is a bulwark against tyranny as well as foreign threats. We need to continue to fight for this right, articulate its importance, and elect representatives who are willing to invest in its preservation.

I am thankful to our county leadership for holding Albany politicians accountable for their attack on our Constitutional rights.

Ben Hull, Madrid
Candidate for St. Lawrence County
Legislature District 8