A State Divided On Gun Control: Ilion Vs. New York City
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: February 7, 2013
As we've reported to you, the New York Safe Act gives New York state the
toughest gun laws in the nation, and it passed both legislative houses
overwhelmingly. Political polls, however, show there is a geographic
divide over the new gun law, with strong support from the downstate
areas and heavier opposition from the more rural upstate region.
New York City may only be 4 hours away, but when it comes to political issues, some say it may as well be another state. We've spoken with Remington Arms employees, officials, even gun shop owners. But tonight, we're digging deeper and talking with YOU - the people of New York.
I started my journey in Ilion. As you can see the whole village bears the name Remington; a school, a federal credit union, and of course the giant factory in the center, the largest employer in Ilion. If the gun maker was to leave...
"The biggest concern is we that live here in Ilion and how are we gonna survive if they leave?" says Howard Mowers, Ilion resident.
"We don't have anything else but Remington and hospitals and human services agencies, and that's all we really consist of. People wouldn't really have any jobs," says Phyllis Spohn, Ilion resident.
"Frankfort, Mohawk, Ilion, Little Falls, everybody.. I mean growing up, I can't even tell you how many people I know that work there, my friends, my family. So many people work in this area that I think it would probably sink numerous towns right around here," says Kathryn Fischer, Ilion resident.
The tragedy at Newtown, at Sandy Hook Elementary, if that was to have happened at Ilion High School, do you think people would think differently?
"No. No, I think people would still have their feelings on gun control," says Spohn.
"It would be terrible but it still wasn't the guns," says Mowers.
"It's the people behind the guns that kill. It's not the gun themselves that do it." says Sally Preston, Ilion resident.
When it comes to issues like gun control, the political breakdown shows that Upstate and Downstate New York have very different views. But I wanted to know what do the people think? So I traveled to New York City to find out.
"I am so for gun control in every way, shape, and form," says Terry Steiner, Manhattan resident.
"I think that in terms of security, it makes sense," says Ayanna Colon, Brooklyn resident.
"I think it's great hes trying to stop the assault weapons ya know, as far as how much ammunition to use, because that's not needed in the city," says Barbara Pires, Bronx resident.
"I agree with the governor as far as an assault rifle is concerned, ya know, you don't need that to kill a deer," says Ralph Green, Harlem resident.
"To put it in perspective for you, Ilion's only a town of 8,000, so a lot of people are worried now that this gun manufacturer is going to leave the state which would devastate the town. People say it would be a ghost town, it would be dead, destroyed, does that change you perspective at all?" asks Rachel Polansky, reporter.
"Yeah I think that, when you put it that way, it's something that shouldn't be done," says Colon.
"That's a big concern, Remington is a huge, huge company for that area," says Ryan Simmons, Brooklyn resident.
"A large manufacturer leave a small town, from an economic perspective, it would devastate it," says Tim McCue, Manhattan resident.
"It's not just the 1400 jobs, its the entire town, it's the economy, they say it would be dead, it would be a ghostown. Does that change anything for you?" asks Rachel Polansky, reporter.
"No, no it doesn't," says Pires.
"1400 jobs, yes that's very difficult, but that's not enough to justify the deaths that have occurred over the past 10-15 years," says Marie O'Brien, Manhattan resident.
"And I feel sorry for these people if they do lose their jobs. There are so many people out of work right now but worth it, I'm sorry," says Steiner.
"I think the town needs to talk to Remington and not turn it on to gun laws. Does Remington have the best thoughts about their employees? Or are they just gonna take a reactionary stance and say ya know, screw you guys, we don't like the law and we're gonna leave. So what kind of reaction is that? Is it really a problem of the law, problem of the governor, or a company that really only cares about profits?" says Victor Sanchez, Harlem resident.
Some people bring up money, others bring up the Second Amendment: Their right to bear arms. But one man says over the years, amendments can get amended.
"It's like slavery. That wasn't fun either, so you gotta get rid of it. I mean slavery was big business, but its not right. And I'm not saying that they shouldn't make guns, they should make guns, but you can't have it rampant like that; people are dying. I guess it doesn't bother you until it gets to your doorstep, until it's your children," says Otis Sallid, Harlem resident.
Are we a state divided? That's for you to decide. And what will be the fate of Remington Arms and Ilion? That's for them to decide.
New York City may only be 4 hours away, but when it comes to political issues, some say it may as well be another state. We've spoken with Remington Arms employees, officials, even gun shop owners. But tonight, we're digging deeper and talking with YOU - the people of New York.
I started my journey in Ilion. As you can see the whole village bears the name Remington; a school, a federal credit union, and of course the giant factory in the center, the largest employer in Ilion. If the gun maker was to leave...
"The biggest concern is we that live here in Ilion and how are we gonna survive if they leave?" says Howard Mowers, Ilion resident.
"We don't have anything else but Remington and hospitals and human services agencies, and that's all we really consist of. People wouldn't really have any jobs," says Phyllis Spohn, Ilion resident.
"Frankfort, Mohawk, Ilion, Little Falls, everybody.. I mean growing up, I can't even tell you how many people I know that work there, my friends, my family. So many people work in this area that I think it would probably sink numerous towns right around here," says Kathryn Fischer, Ilion resident.
The tragedy at Newtown, at Sandy Hook Elementary, if that was to have happened at Ilion High School, do you think people would think differently?
"No. No, I think people would still have their feelings on gun control," says Spohn.
"It would be terrible but it still wasn't the guns," says Mowers.
"It's the people behind the guns that kill. It's not the gun themselves that do it." says Sally Preston, Ilion resident.
When it comes to issues like gun control, the political breakdown shows that Upstate and Downstate New York have very different views. But I wanted to know what do the people think? So I traveled to New York City to find out.
"I am so for gun control in every way, shape, and form," says Terry Steiner, Manhattan resident.
"I think that in terms of security, it makes sense," says Ayanna Colon, Brooklyn resident.
"I think it's great hes trying to stop the assault weapons ya know, as far as how much ammunition to use, because that's not needed in the city," says Barbara Pires, Bronx resident.
"I agree with the governor as far as an assault rifle is concerned, ya know, you don't need that to kill a deer," says Ralph Green, Harlem resident.
"To put it in perspective for you, Ilion's only a town of 8,000, so a lot of people are worried now that this gun manufacturer is going to leave the state which would devastate the town. People say it would be a ghost town, it would be dead, destroyed, does that change you perspective at all?" asks Rachel Polansky, reporter.
"Yeah I think that, when you put it that way, it's something that shouldn't be done," says Colon.
"That's a big concern, Remington is a huge, huge company for that area," says Ryan Simmons, Brooklyn resident.
"A large manufacturer leave a small town, from an economic perspective, it would devastate it," says Tim McCue, Manhattan resident.
"It's not just the 1400 jobs, its the entire town, it's the economy, they say it would be dead, it would be a ghostown. Does that change anything for you?" asks Rachel Polansky, reporter.
"No, no it doesn't," says Pires.
"1400 jobs, yes that's very difficult, but that's not enough to justify the deaths that have occurred over the past 10-15 years," says Marie O'Brien, Manhattan resident.
"And I feel sorry for these people if they do lose their jobs. There are so many people out of work right now but worth it, I'm sorry," says Steiner.
"I think the town needs to talk to Remington and not turn it on to gun laws. Does Remington have the best thoughts about their employees? Or are they just gonna take a reactionary stance and say ya know, screw you guys, we don't like the law and we're gonna leave. So what kind of reaction is that? Is it really a problem of the law, problem of the governor, or a company that really only cares about profits?" says Victor Sanchez, Harlem resident.
Some people bring up money, others bring up the Second Amendment: Their right to bear arms. But one man says over the years, amendments can get amended.
"It's like slavery. That wasn't fun either, so you gotta get rid of it. I mean slavery was big business, but its not right. And I'm not saying that they shouldn't make guns, they should make guns, but you can't have it rampant like that; people are dying. I guess it doesn't bother you until it gets to your doorstep, until it's your children," says Otis Sallid, Harlem resident.
Are we a state divided? That's for you to decide. And what will be the fate of Remington Arms and Ilion? That's for them to decide.
