Demagoguing lawful gun owners will not stop gun violence
Regarding “Stefanik’s husband works within industry,” May 28, the facts haven’t been hidden: I’m the husband of U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik. I’m the public affairs manager for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. I’m not a lobbyist.
Suggesting culpability in murder by deranged criminals is repugnant. Insinuating improper influence due to “unparalleled access” is sexist. I’ve never asked her to vote any way on anything. Her record is long, public and, judging by election returns, what her employers — New York voters — want.
I’m proud of my work at NSSF. Among the work that I have supported:
Project Childsafe has provided more than 40 million free gun lock safety kits to law enforcement across the country. Poughkeepsie police dispersed them last month.
NSSF initiated a statelevel effort in 2013 to encourage states to include more records into the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Sixteen states passed laws and former President Donald Trump signed the Fix NICS Act to strengthen firearm background checks after overwhelming bipartisan congressional
support. This effort yielded a 270 percent increase in disqualifying records in NICS, from 1.7 million to 6.2 million.
Operation Secure Store helps retailers reduce thefts. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives data shows 61 percent fewer burglaries and 71 percent fewer stolen firearms between 2020 and 2021. NSSF matches reward funds in stolen gun crimes.
The Don’t Lie program reminds the public of severe penalties for “straw purchasing.”
And NSSF partners with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to reduce suicides, especially among veterans.
Since 2020, 1.1 million New Yorkers have lawfully purchased a firearm, up from the 350,000 yearly average prior. New York has among the nation’s strictest gun laws that criminals ignore.
Demagoguing law-abiding gun owners and the industry supporting them doesn’t keep firearms from people who shouldn’t have them.
Matt Manda Schuylerville