Vedat Gashi is the Safe Choice for Women, families

When it comes to electing leaders, we need representatives that put the safety of our community and its people ahead of special interest groups. Sadly, that’s not what’s been happening.

In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook school shooting, New York passed the New York SAFE Act in 2013. It keeps criminals and those suffering from some kinds of mental illness from buying guns by requiring universal background checks, among other measures. At the same time, it still preserves the right for hunters, sportsmen and law abiding gun owners to buy, sell, keep or use firearms.

But just a few weeks before this year’s Parkland school shooting, NYS Assemblyman Kevin Byrne, who receives NRA contributions, introduced legislation to repeal part of the New York SAFE Act. Interestingly, Byrne’s proposal to repeal part of the SAFE Act would exclude New York City. Why would he support different rules for different New Yorkers?

To make matters worse, every month, 50 women are shot to death by intimate partners in the United States. But when faced with the opportunity to protect women and families, Byrne voted against the Red Flag law, which helps keep guns away from convicted domestic abusers.

Vedat Gashi is a gun owner, a family man, and supporter of the 2nd amendment. Like the majority of Americans, he also supports common sense reform, like enhanced background checks, preventing the sale of bump stocks, and keeping guns from convicted domestic abusers. It’s this kind of common sense approach that we need in Albany.

That’s why I’m voting for Vedat Gashi for NYS Assembly.