Abinanti Supports Free Press Rights

In response to the recent legislative proposal designed to limit the information that newspapers can publish regarding New York State handgun permits, Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/Mt. Pleasant) issued the following statement:

All parents should have the right to know whether their neighbor has a gun in thehouse before they let their child go over to play. Contrary to gun owners’ assertions, there is no evidence that publicly identifying gun permit holders increases the likelihood that their weapons will be stolen. The National Rifle Association has traditionally argued that homes are safer when thieves know there's a gun in the house. Further, if a gun owner safely stores a gun as required by Westchester law, then a thief cannot steal it. The NRA is raising this issue to distract public attention from yet another tragedy and the message it sends: There are too many guns too easily available to too many people who would misuse them. I will oppose any effort in the Assembly to limit the First Amendment rights of a free press and the public’s right to know information that is important to them.

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