Democracy may be bursting out all over the world, but there's
little evidence of it in the New York State Assembly. Speaker
Sheldon Silver has been blocking important gun-trafficking
legislation by saying that he's studying it, thus avoiding a
floor vote. For the past two years, he's been using that tactic
to stall a bill that Governor Pataki proposed that would add
teeth to existing anti-gun trafficking laws. Shame on you, Mr.
Speaker.
Governor Pataki paid a visit to Staten Island yesterday and held
a press conference with the Staten Island district attorney,
Daniel Donovan, to urge immediate passage of two critical
crime-fighting bills. It was also the anniversary of the brutal
slayings of two undercover police officers, Rodney Andrews and
James Nemorin. Mr. Donovan opened the session acknowledging the
sacrifices of the two officers. He reminded us that his
predecessor announced his intention to ask for the death penalty
for Ronell Wilson, the accused cop-killer, and that when he
assumed office in January of last year he committed to follow
that course. That option was taken away from his office by the
state Court of Appeals, which ruled the state's death penalty law
as invalid.
Mr. Silver used this opportunity to debate whether the death
penalty should be reinstated at all. But, Mr. Donovan says, the
court only struck down a single provision of the law that has
since been rewritten and passed the state Senate on Wednesday by
a vote of 37-22. He urged the Assembly majority to vote for
passage of the bill.
Mr. Pataki cited the statistics that make New York one of the
safest big cities in the nation. But, he said, it is vitally
important that we change the laws that will help keep the
criminals behind bars. "Our laws are so weak right now that
one can sell illegal guns on the street and still get out on
probation."
According to Mr. Pataki, police officers can stop a car and find
19 illegal guns in the trunk, and the offender can be charged
with only a Class A misdemeanor. "That is absurd," the
governor said. One of the laws he has submitted to rectify this
absurdity passed the State Senate 60-0, but Mr. Silver has been
studying it since 2003. Not even the NRA would find fault with
this law, so why won't Mr. Silver let the Assembly vote on it?
The death penalty has always been a thorny issue in this state,
and its critics have always concluded that it is not a deterrent.
Borough president James Molinaro begs to disagree. He cited the
tragic case of the family slain in New Jersey during a robbery
because the youngest daughter recognized one of the robbers. Mr.
Molinaro said the men cold-bloodedly slew the family because
there is no death penalty in New Jersey.
Recently, the Supreme Court declared that the death penalty could
not be applied to minors. Do these justices realize how many
minors have access to illegal guns and now have been given a free
pass to murder without having to face death row? Aspiring actress
Nicole DuFresne was slain by a group of teenagers, remember?
Where did they get that gun, Mr. Silver?
I'm not a fan of the death penalty, but I can understand that in
certain cases this may be the only way to prevent criminals from
targeting the law enforcers who keep us safe. We are not a
fascist state but one that recognizes that just laws are what
separate a society from anarchists. Consider the tragedy that has
befallen Britain with its socialist society, which keeps weapons
away from the law-abiding citizens and even its police force.
Crime has naturally skyrocketed out of control.
Herbert Buckland, 84, committed suicide after being robbed for
the third time, according to published reports. He was a prisoner
in his home after being robbed twice last year. After coming
face-to-face with the burglars for the third time, he had had
enough. He called his family and told them that the world was no
longer a place he wanted to live in.
New York has been blessed by having men and women willing to face
the day-to-day battle against criminals. They need legislation
with an enforceable backbone. Whether you agree with these bills
or not, Mr. Speaker, our elected representatives should have the
right to cast their votes. That's how democracy works.