The Saratoga County Deputy Sheriffs' Police Benevolent Association claims the requirement of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's SAFE Act to register certain firearms on a yearly basis and pistol permits every five years "accomplishes nothing in the area of public safety and is unnecessarily burdensome."
Yet there are many recreational activities, professions and privileges that may not be performed without proper registration or a state-issued license in New York.
Fishing, hunting and trapping licenses must be renewed every year. Cars must be inspected every year and registered every two years. Private investigator, security guard, bounty hunter, armed car guard and patrol agency licenses must be renewed every two years. CPR and first aid certifications are valid for two years. New York police officers must undergo annual or biannual requalification in firearm training.
As the National Rifle Association says, we need to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and abusers. Reregistering one's guns every five years seems like a small step to keep guns out of the hands of any of Saratoga County's more than 300 registered sex offenders and the perpetrators of the hundreds of domestic violence incidents in 2011.
New York law enforcement officers have an important role to play in reducing gun violence in our state. But the Saratoga County PBA is coming across as more political interest than public servant.
Bob Turner
Saratoga Springs
