KINGSTON – It came as no surprise that the Ulster County Legislature voted 14-8 in support of a resolution decrying many elements of New York State's SAFE Act, but the lead-up to the vote was long and emotional. For nearly three hours, legislators listened to opinions for and against the resolution, the law which inspired it, and guns in general. The regular meeting was moved to the Ulster Performing Arts Center, where the nine hundred seats made available were nearly all filled.

Rhetoric ran thick and hot. People on both sides of the issue quoted the Bible, the founding fathers, and the Constitution. Old saws like "throwing the baby out with the bath water" were repeated as often as newer sentiments, like "letting the terrorists win." Some speakers attempted to find common ground, by recognizing the flaws in how the state law was passed or acknowledging the tragic number of deaths by shooting, but few in the audience or on stage appeared to be swayed one iota from the positions they arrived with.

At least three times during the public comment portion of the meeting, Legislative Chairman Terry Bernardo warned the audience and speakers that proper decorum must be observed.

"Audience members are not to engage in dialogue with the speaker, and the speaker is to address the legislature, not the audience," she chided.

More than a dozen sheriff's deputies were situated throughout the auditorium, but the chairman did not follow through on threats to have violators removed.

Bernardo also made no pronouncements against audience reaction to the speakers. Most of the first dozen people to make remarks were opposed to the resolution, and each was met with a strong chorus of boos from the largely gun-right-supporting audience. In contrast, the first people to speak in support received cheers, whoops, and standing ovations.

Resolution 52 asks the state legislature to repeal sections of the SAFE Act "which infringe upon the right of the people to keep and bear arms," a phrasing which sponsor Ken Ronk (R-Wallkill) says was made intentionally vague to prompt debate. In addition to specific provisions such as limiting magazines to seven rounds, detractors are infuriated that Governor Cuomo used a "message of necessity" as justification to force the bill through without the required three-day waiting period, despite the fact that most of its sixty provisions won't go into effect for a full year.

While most attendees and speakers supported the resolution, this was the first time the issue brought out gun-control advocates as well. As many as sixty people spoke, and roughly a quarter of them supported stronger gun control laws, including the SAFE Act. Another change from previous meetings on the issue was the number of women present, both for and against the resolution. Past meetings have been attended by a nearly all-male crowd.

Those opposed to the resolution shared anecdotes of gun violence, read statistics, and lectured the audience on the meaning of the second amendment. Gun-rights supporters in turn pointed out that the second amendment is not about hunting, but about protecting one's life and property from criminals and invading armies, whether foreign or domestic in origin.

The rancor exhibited during the lengthy public comment session carried over to the vote itself, with David Donaldson in particular being shouted down as he exceeded his allotted two minutes' time to explain his nay vote. Like others opposed, Donaldson felt that if a resolution calling on the federal government for stronger gun control laws is frivolous to pursue, such as the one defeated last month by the legislature, this one is no better.

"We have no jurisdiction over this matter," he said amidst the catcalls.

On Tuesday, February 26, beginning at 6 p.m., SUNY Sullivan will host a panel discussion to examine the recent shootings in Newtown, Connecticut. The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

"The intense reaction to the Newtown shootings has sparked a genuine national conversation, but is that conversation devolving into simplistic 'solutions' and political posturing?" reads the promotional material for the discussion, which will feature various academics in sociology, psychology and other fields. "This panel, representing four different disciplines, will discuss the multifaceted dimensions of the causes, lessons, and appropriate responses to this tragedy. The panel presentation will be followed by questions and answers."

For more information on this event, please call 434-5750 or visit www.sunysullivan.edu.

We'll be there...