Since our announcement that the NYS Firearms Association has had Stand-Your-Ground law introduced in the State Senate and the Assembly in Albany last week, it’s clear that New Yorkers are ecstatic to be on offense!
And make no mistake, that’s exactly what we are doing with this bill, going on the attack!
Sure, it’s 2020, King Cuomo is on the throne and passing this legislation sure isn’t going to be a ‘cake walk.’
But like we said in our alert from last week, just by having the bill filed, gun owners are in a great position.
Either we pass this legislation, or we are able to go on the attack in November and hold legislators accountable for blocking this legislation.
And with so many vulnerable gun grabbers holding seats that they won by 1-2% in 2018 — when President Trump was not on the ballot — 2020 will be a fantastic opportunity to do so!
I’m sure you can see why we are so excited to be spearheading this effort.
Please help us by sending a pre-written email to your lawmakers in Albany, urging them to co-sponsor this legislation right away.
Many of you are flooding us with questions about the bill, and the most common question we are receiving by far is:
“How does Stand-Your-Ground law differ from Castle Doctrine law?”
Castle Doctrine is a concept that literally dates back to biblical times. Exodus 22:2 says, “If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him.”
Historians have shown that the Roman Empire held to a similar concept, saying that, “To enter a house with any malevolent intention was a sacrilege. The domicile was
inviolable.”
The idea was codified in England in the early 1600’s by Sir Edward Coke, and has been accepted as a part of English common law ever since.
The Castle Doctrine simply states that a person’s home is their castle, and that if you are attacked in your home, there is nowhere left to flee. Consequently, for thousands of years, the law held you harmless for defending yourself against a criminal attack in your home without retreating.
Stand-Your-Ground law and the Castle Doctrine are not the same thing, however.
Stand-Your-Ground law expands the Castle Doctrine concept by extending the area where you are not required to retreat from a violent criminal to ‘any other place you are lawfully permitted to be.’
For example, if you are at church and a madman launches a killing spree, you would not have to retreat before taking defensive action, as you are ‘lawfully permitted’ to be at church.
If you are walking out of the grocery store with your family, and an armed robber attacks you with a knife, you would not have to retreat before taking defensive action, as you are ‘lawfully permitted’ to be at the grocery store.
If you are at a park with your children, and a violent criminal tries to kidnap your child, you would not have to retreat before taking defensive action, because you are ‘lawfully permitted’ to be at the park.
This concept is so obvious that it is already on the books in a whopping thirty-six states today, including ‘blue’ states like Illinois, California, Washington, and Oregon.
In fact, Missouri, Iowa, and Wyoming have passed Stand- Your-Ground law protections in just the last few years, and this legislation is currently on the move in Ohio, as well!
(Thirty-six states have Stand-Your-Ground law in effect today through a combination of legislation, court precedent, or jury instructions.)
And that’s why it is high time that the New York State legislature put these protections in place!
If you agree, send this PRE-WRITTEN EMAIL to your State Senator and State Assemblyman right away, urging him/her to co-sponsor this crucial legislation!
Remember, just by helping us mount pressure in support of this bill, we are re-shaping the narrative in the fight for gun rights here in New York State.
Either the legislature passes this bill and grants us these protections, or this is an issue that gun owners can use to bludgeon gun-grabbers with come election time!
And to help the NYS Firearms Association obtain as many co-sponsors as possible on this legislation, please consider making a generous donation today.
We are using targeted social media, direct mail, and boots on the ground in Albany to advance this legislation, but we need your help.
So if you can donate $5, $50, or $500 to help us fight for gun owners and our God-given right to defend ourselves, please do so at once!
Whatever you do, send your email right away!
For Freedom,
Aaron Dorr
Executive Director
New York State Firearms Association
P.S. Our Stand-Your-Ground law is on the move in Albany, with the bill having been filed late last week by Senator Ortt!
This bill would allow gun owners to defend themselves against a violent criminal attack, without having to retreat first, as is the case in 36 other states!
But we need to build momentum for this bill, which is why I hope you’ll send this pre-written email to your lawmakers immediately!
Then make an investment in our fight for gun rights here in Albany, so that we can continue to mobilize as many gun owners as possible!
Donate here.
To become a member of the NYSFA, go here.