[Democrat & Chronicle] SOLON, NY ‐ This town became the first in New York to pass a law refusing to enforce future state gun laws.The town law, adopted unanimously at a special meeting Thursday following a public hearing, prohibits any town official or employee from participating in the enforcement of future state gun laws or from using town funds to aid in such enforcement. The Cortland County town does not have its own police officers; law enforcement is provided by State Police and the county sheriff’s department.
The law would also allow Solon residents to sue anyone accused of violating the law in state Supreme Court for "declaratory and injunctive relief, damages, and attorney fees" as well as civil fines between $500 and $2,000.
The law has three exceptions. It would not:
- Apply to convicted felons or those prohibited from possessing firearms under federal law.
- "Prohibit in any way the prosecution of any crime for which the use of, or possession of, a firearm is an aggregating factor or enhancement to an otherwise independent crime."
- Allow firearms possession in areas where they are now prohibited by law.
- The proposed law would not apply to the enforcement of existing gun laws, including the 2013 SAFE Act.
Town Supervisor Steve Furlin characterized the law as a policy statement.
"With this local law, this town is making a statement, and that statement is, ’No more,’" he said.
Two dozen people ‐ including Cortland County Sheriff Mark Helms, county Republican Committee Chairwoman Connie White and James Uhlinger, a staffer for Claudia Tenney, a former congresswoman and congressional candidate ‐ attended the meeting in the town garage.
Helms, who didn’t speak at the meeting, had previously said he can’t "pick and choose which laws that I’ll enforce" as sheriff.
White, who said she hadn’t read the law, said she supported "the community pushing back" against intrusive state laws.
Town of Solon Local Law #2.