Robert Kesten Speaks on Gun Safety & the Constitution

NYS Senate Democratic Candidate Says Multiple Steps Are Needed to Solve Gun Violence Crisis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - At a town hall meeting hosted by up2us at New Castle Town Hall on March 14, NY State Senate District 40 Democratic Candidate Robert Kesten focused on gun safety and the U.S. Constitution.

During the gathering, Kesten reviewed the recent spate of bills approved by both the NY State Senate and Assembly, with more than 20 bills passed since the mass killing at the Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL on February 14.

Of the bills passed by the Assembly, Kesten mentioned the bump stock ban, the Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) and an extended background check period (from 3 to 10 days). He contrasted those bills to the NY State Senate’s legislation to expand armed officers in schools, place mandatory officers in New York City private and public schools and declare mass shootings “domestic terrorism,” along with domestic violence bill allowing women to testify (as children already do) via teleconferencing.

Kesten explained to the bipartisan crowd that the Assembly bills make a concerted effort to keep weapons out of the hands of those who are a danger to themselves and others. The Senate legislation, however, seeks to fortify and militarize people’s daily lives by working hard to build walls that keep danger out, but at the same time it restricts the ability of citizens to live their normal everyday lives.

“By making us fearful of venturing out into the public square and locking in ourselves behind gates, we actually make our communities less safe and our lives less creative and full,” Kesten said at the Town Hall. “One of the things that have set the U.S. apart is our creativity and desire to explore. That can be destroyed by a state that instills fear and limits our personal freedoms.”

Kesten said multiple steps will be needed to solve the gun violence crisis, but in the long term, citizens must deal with the foundational problems facing the nation, which will take time. “Whatever we do in the short term to curtail mass shootings, suicides, domestic violence killings, and gun-related accidents will be a temporary solution. We must introduce and integrate systemic and lasting changes within our ever-changing culture and society,” he said.

Kesten reminded the audience that no single amendment to the Constitution is without limits—not freedom of speech religion, property rights, or the right to bear arms. “We can’t yell fire in a crowded theater and can’t have human sacrifices, and we need to ensure that those who are a danger to themselves or others don’t gain access to weapons,” he said.

The New Castle event was the Kesten campaign’s fifth Town Hall meeting. The next Town Hall will take place on Tuesday, April 17th at 7PM in Brewster, NY, with a focus on opioids, addiction and mental health. More information is available at www.ElectKesten.com.

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