Letter: Gun Control An Issue For 40th NY Senate District Voter

Letter to the Editor:

I frequently travel the Interstate 84 corridor from New York to Connecticut and back.

Every time I come upon the exit that says, “Sandy Hook/Newtown” my stomach lurks and a wave of sadness grips me as I relive the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. Who of us in this area can forget that 20 children between the ages of 6 and 7 yrs. old and six adults while trying to shield them were all fatally shot.

Then the shooter took his own life. Prior to the massacre this 20 yr. old young male shot and killed his mother in their home. The shooter suffered from multiple mental health disorders-and there he was with a gun!

Republican State Senator Terrence Murphy is running for re-election in my district. Mr. Murphy is a co-sponsor of S.879, a bill to repeal the SAFE Act outside of NYC. He is on record opposing the SAFE Act in his previous campaigns. The NRA has contributed $2000 to his last campaign. When questioned neither Murphy or his staff respond to either gun safety or the SAFE Act. I for one do not want Senator Murphy to be re-elected as MY representative in Albany. He is not looking out for any of our best interests regarding gun safety, children and easy access to guns in the hands of individuals struggling with mental health issues.

So I am voting for his opponent, Democrat Pete Harckham. In 2018 the NY Assembly passed SAFE Act enhancements, all rejected by the Republican controlled Senate. The enhancements include: The RED FLAG BILL-removal of guns for the mentally ill, enhanced background checks, convert semi-automatic weapons to automatic, ban on guns for those convicted of domestic violence. Sounds reasonable to me.

Pete Harckham fully supports all aspects of these enhancements. It is time for New York to join eleven other states in the country who have passed this legislation-it’s common sense. On Tuesday, November 6 th , I urge all registered Democrats to get to the polls and vote for Pete Harckham. We most defeat Senator Terrence Murphy who represents the Trump agenda in Albany. Our votes are critical!

Karen Sevell Greenbaum
Croton-on-Hudson, NY