Today, Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I-Pulaski) joined his colleagues at a press conference announcing legislation to repeal portions of the SAFE Act in Upstate New York and on Long Island. This legislation would limit provisions of the SAFE Act to the counties of Kings, Queens, Richmond, New York and the Bronx. Since its enactment, the Assembly Minority has contested the SAFE Act, saying it infringes on the rights of law-abiding citizens in New York State.

“This marks a huge step in the right direction for upstate New Yorkers,” said Barclay. “The SAFE Act has violated our Second Amendment rights and limited our ability to defend our families. There’s a clear divide between upstate and downstate New York, and this legislation is a way for us to negotiate a repeal of the SAFE Act in the 2017-18 State Budget. If ride-sharing or the minimum wage, which offer specific carve-outs for certain regions of the state, can be negotiated as part of the budget, this should be as well. Upstate residents can take comfort knowing that their elected officials are fighting for their rights, and I’m calling on members of the Senate and Assembly to move forward with this needed legislation.”