Legislators protest firearms fee

Niagara County lawmakers called Tuesday on the State Senate to defeat an anti-Second Amendment bill that would impose annual registration fees on law-abiding gun owners living outside New York City. The bill, introduced by Sen. Eric Adams, D-Queens, would force a $15-per-firearm initial registration fee, as well as $10-per-firearm renewal fees, on owners in upstate New York and Long Island.

The bill specifically exempts where its sponsor resides.

"Here in Niagara County, we've always preferred our Constitution as it was written," said Legislator John Syracuse, R-Newfane, the lead sponsor of the opposing resolution. "The Eric Adams gun registration bill is now before the Senate's Codes Committee. That is a real cause for concern. Let's be clear here: this bill is one of the most far-reaching assaults on the Second Amendment to come along in New York in some time. And, given the composition of the Senate, it actually has a chance of becoming law."