Firearms’ owners and Second Amendment activists in New York made it loud and clear to lawmakers that they weren’t on board with a new gun registration law that took effect on Tax Day, gathering in downtown Buffalo and shredding the very documents they were supposed to fill out and sign.
The protest drew dozens and was aimed at turning back the legislative tide of the hastily passed SAFE Act that as of April 15 bans state residents from buying certain types of weapons and requires those who already own those types of weapons to register them with the government.
“The SAFE Act redefines an ‘assault weapon’ as almost any semi-automatic weapon with a ‘military-style feature,’ including a telescoping stock, long guns with a pistol grip or the ability to hold a detachable magazine,” the local WIVB-TV reported.
One gun owner protesting the registration law said: “We will not register our firearms, any firearms whatsoever. It’s been done before, historically. And historically, registration has always led to confiscation,” The Blaze reported.
The new law says that those who don’t comply face prosecution — and could face a felony conviction for possession of any deemed assault weapon.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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