Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I--Pulaski) tonight argued against the New York SAFE Act at Syracuse University. He and John Lott, a political commentator and author of "More Guns, Less Crime," questioned the law's effectiveness at increasing public safety.

Barclay voted against the bill in the Assembly and has been a vocal opponent of the law.

"This law does nothing to make our streets safer. If this is in direct reaction to the terrible mass killings that occurred in Colorado and Connecticut, we failed the public. We should focus the millions of dollars being spent to implement the law instead on our mental health services and improving reactions to those who exhibit homicidal behavior," said Barclay. "The New York SAFE Act, instead, targets legal gun owners when statistically most violent gun crimes are committed with stolen or illegal weapons."

Arguing against Barclay and Lott was Leah Barrett, executive director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, and Robert Spitzer, a SUNY Cortland professor and author of “The Politics of Gun Control.”

The debate was organized by Syracuse University Professor Grant Reeher, director of Campbell Public Affairs Institute at S.U. The debate will be archived at www.campbellinstitute.org. It will also air at a time to be announced on WRVO, 88.9 FM.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on such an important public safety law, and I want to thank Syracuse University and Mr. Reeher for organizing tonight’s event," said Barclay.