Pro-Gun Rights Rally In Albany Brings Out Ilion Residents
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: February 12, 2013
The calls to to overturn the new gun laws in New York state are getting
louder. This morning, hundreds of opponents of the new laws took part in
a gun rights rally on the capitol steps in Albany.
Eyewitness News reporter Rachel Polansky traveled along with a group of Ilion residents as they made the journey to Albany. They joined hundreds of people from across the state, and even country, with one message to the governor: Repeal the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act, or NY-SAFE Act.
"We're heading to Albany to let Cuomo know that his law was passed unconstitutionally and against the people of New York state," says Ted Mowers, Ilion resident.
"To support our second amendment. If we lose this right, we're gonna lose a lot of other rights," says David Heap, Herkimer resident.
"Then you have nothing else and no more freedom of speech and 1 more amendment after another will be taken away from us," says Lynn Mowers, Ilion resident.
From the quiet streets of IIion... To the vocal protests on the state capitol.
"It's sounding great right now. The fact is people don't want their second amendment taken away," says Ted Mowers.
"The people of the state of New York have every right to possess and bear arms and the governors infringed upon us," says Gus Polli, Albany resident.
"I am not a hunter, I only own a gun for self defense," says Earl Wallace, Schenectady resident.
"We are hostages of the state of New York," says Polli.
And it's not just civilians protesting. More than a dozen speakers and activists including county and state officials are taking a stand against the NY-SAFE Act.
"When NY-SAFE Act limits our abilities to defend ourselves and protect all that we hold dear and our properties, it renders us to be very vulnerable, and there's nothing safe about being vulnerable," says Deborah Busch, Albany County legislator.
"The second amendment is the most critical amendment in the bill of rights. It is our last line of defense against tyranny. It is the most attacked amendment and I know if we lose this, we have no way to defend the rest of our rights," says Jan Morgan, second amendment activist.
The Ilion folks says they're not only fighting for their second amendment; they're also representing Remington Arms and all of Ilion.
"Remington to Ilion is like baseball to Cooperstown. It's very important that they stay," says Alex Zoeller, Cooperstown resident.
"Our county needs to wake up. We need to keep Remington there. We can't afford to lose anymore. If they go, there's no place for these people to find a job," says Lynn Mowers.
Several activists say they planned to stay after the protest to speak with state officials. And an even larger rally to support gun rights is planned for February 28th in Albany.
Eyewitness News reporter Rachel Polansky traveled along with a group of Ilion residents as they made the journey to Albany. They joined hundreds of people from across the state, and even country, with one message to the governor: Repeal the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act, or NY-SAFE Act.
"We're heading to Albany to let Cuomo know that his law was passed unconstitutionally and against the people of New York state," says Ted Mowers, Ilion resident.
"To support our second amendment. If we lose this right, we're gonna lose a lot of other rights," says David Heap, Herkimer resident.
"Then you have nothing else and no more freedom of speech and 1 more amendment after another will be taken away from us," says Lynn Mowers, Ilion resident.
From the quiet streets of IIion... To the vocal protests on the state capitol.
"It's sounding great right now. The fact is people don't want their second amendment taken away," says Ted Mowers.
"The people of the state of New York have every right to possess and bear arms and the governors infringed upon us," says Gus Polli, Albany resident.
"I am not a hunter, I only own a gun for self defense," says Earl Wallace, Schenectady resident.
"We are hostages of the state of New York," says Polli.
And it's not just civilians protesting. More than a dozen speakers and activists including county and state officials are taking a stand against the NY-SAFE Act.
"When NY-SAFE Act limits our abilities to defend ourselves and protect all that we hold dear and our properties, it renders us to be very vulnerable, and there's nothing safe about being vulnerable," says Deborah Busch, Albany County legislator.
"The second amendment is the most critical amendment in the bill of rights. It is our last line of defense against tyranny. It is the most attacked amendment and I know if we lose this, we have no way to defend the rest of our rights," says Jan Morgan, second amendment activist.
The Ilion folks says they're not only fighting for their second amendment; they're also representing Remington Arms and all of Ilion.
"Remington to Ilion is like baseball to Cooperstown. It's very important that they stay," says Alex Zoeller, Cooperstown resident.
"Our county needs to wake up. We need to keep Remington there. We can't afford to lose anymore. If they go, there's no place for these people to find a job," says Lynn Mowers.
Several activists say they planned to stay after the protest to speak with state officials. And an even larger rally to support gun rights is planned for February 28th in Albany.
