Assemblyman David DiPietro’s (R,C – East Aurora) attempts to repeal the SAFE Act today reached the Codes Committee for a vote to release the bill to the Assembly as a whole. The Assembly Majority voted unanimously to kill the repeal effort. Also voted down was a measure insuring that pistol permit data would be better protected by making those permits not subject to release unless the holder requests this anonymity be broken. This effectively changes the law’s opt-out policy to an opt-in.

“What we witnessed today is the same brash arrogance that led to this law’s passage last year,” DiPietro said. “They effectively voted against every citizen who has turned out for every rally, every court case, and the United States Constitution. The longer we wait to repeal this gross abuse of our rights, the longer honest, law-abiding citizens will be harassed for merely exercising a constitutional right. As a free society, we cannot allow that to continue.”

The assemblyman’s repeal bill is A.6238, while the attempt to change the law from an opt-out to an opt-in provision is A.6387. Last year, Assemblyman DiPietro spearheaded “Freedom’s Knocking” with State Sen. Kathy Marchione, an event where thousands of SAFE Act opponents came to Albany and delivered over 100,000 signatures demanding the law’s repeal to Gov. Cuomo’s office.