On Tuesday, an unlikely celebrity has joined thousands of gun enthusiasts just outside the Capitol to urge lawmakers to repeal gun control measures that has been championed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. SeattlePI.com said that the rally has been spurred by the introduction of New York gun control bills happening inside the Statehouse. The online news site said that the bills currently has the most restrictive measures in the US, which include limiting the number of guns purchase in a month down to one.
The rally on the Empire State Plaza was graced by celebrity businessman Donald Trump, who spoke against the gun control measures. Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino was also in attendance to speak about the new gun control bills at the event.
Trump, who has openly shut down rumors that he will be challenging Cuomo's state gubernatorial seat last month, received cheers from some of the rallyists who have hoisted up signs that read "Trump for Governor." He said at the rally, "I'm a big Second Amendment person. You have the constitutional right to bear arms."
Rally attendee Royal Kraeger, a Vietnam veteran and a gun owner from Boonville, said about Cuomo's swift legislative move, "You cannot blame Cuomo when you have two legislative houses that allowed it to get to him. We have to get people out to vote. We have to get a lot of legislators out (of the Legislature) as well."
The proposals introduced on Tuesday also include forcing owners to use trigger locks or gun safes for storing guns and install a 10-day waiting period before a buyer gets to have his recently-purchased gun.
SeattlePI.com said the grim motivation for lawmakers to adopt more tougher gun restrictions was the 2012 school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut, which resulted to deaths, injuries and trauma to both children, teachers and parents of the town. The need for more stricter gun rules was highlighted when last year, two Democratic Colorado state senators had been recalled over their support to the gun legislation.
