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County Exec Candidates Trade Verbal Jabs On Gun Control

Suffern Mayor Dagan Lacorte criticized recent decisions by the Rockland County Legislature

 

Suffern Mayor Dagan Lacorte called out two Rockland County Legislators, and two of his opponents in this year’s Rockland County Executive, for their stance on recent gun control legislation.


This week, the legislature passed a law urging the state to make changes to the recently passed NY SAFE Act. The resolution was originally brought to the legislature by Legislators Ed Day and Chris Carey, and was amended by Legislator Frank Sparaco, all Republican legislators. The resolution, however, passed with bipartisan support, 10-5, at Tuesday’s meeting. One Democrat who voted in favor of the resolution was Legislator Ilan Schoenberger, who, along with Day, is running for county executive later this year.

“In the midst of the first real gun debate this country has seen, County Legislator Ilan Schoenberger, one of my Democratic opponents in the race for Rockland County Executive, has taken a position on gun control that is wildly out of touch with Rockland County Democrats,” Lacorte said in a statement released Friday. “Through political maneuvering, Mr. Schoenberger succeeded in having the Rockland County Legislature oppose sensible gun control legislation; including reinstatement of President [Bill] Clinton’s Assault Weapons Ban and Governor Cuomo’s SAFE ACT.”

On Friday, Schoenberger noted that the county’s resolution is a memorializing legislation.

“It did not cause any assault weapons to be banned or not to be banned,” he said.

Instead, Schoenberger referenced an announcement Lacorte made earlier in the week in regards to revitalization in Suffern beginning with the opening of a new ACE Rainbow Hardware Store that some have criticized because of the possible problems the store could provide for an older hardware store in the village.

“It endangers businesses that have been there for a century,” Schoenberger said. “He should concentrate on running the Village of Suffern while he’s the mayor instead of memorializing legislations.”

Lacorte’s statement also criticized Day as well.

“Republican Ed Day, a career law enforcement man, would have Rockland voters believe that he needs to get clarification on what is and is not ‘an assault weapon,’” Lacorte said. “He should just be clear in whether he is ‘up or down’ on a re-instatement of an assault weapons ban.”

Lacorte’s statement finished up with his own thoughts on gun control.

“I couldn’t be clearer on my position regarding gun control. As the only Progressive Democrat running for Rockland County Executive, I support sensible gun control laws. I’m a strong supporter of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s SAFE Act, and I believe we need to reinstate, on a federal level, the Clinton-era assault weapons ban,” he said.

“However, I do not believe that guns should be confiscated from lawful gun owners. Sensible gun ownership of non-automatic weapons and shotguns should be permitted in a free society. The Journal News acted irresponsibly in printing the gun map, and it, in no way, moved the debate forward. With that being said, I am proud to be the only candidate for Rockland County Executive who doesn’t own a gun, and a member of the Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition.”

Day could not be reached for comment on Friday, but his campaign manager, and son, responded to Lacorte’s comments.

“His position on gun ownership is a straw man and betrays his lack of knowledge of guns and their features and functions,” said Christopher Day. “Automatic and select fire weapons are banned throughout the United States, and have been banned for decades without challenge, so trying to draw a distinction between them and semi-automatic weapons in his position is either based on ignorance or a deliberate attempt to confuse the matter. His obvious confusion about the term ‘assault weapon’ as bandied about by politicos shows the exact need for a more specific and fair definition and validates my father's position. The actual weapons being discussed are in fact all semi-automatic weapons, just ones that bear a physical resemblance to military-style rifles and can accept a magazine, as, again, all semi-automatic weapons can." 

Day continued to say his father opposes the assault weapons ban because as it is phrased currently, it bans weapons that aren’t actually assault weapons. He said his father’s position on guns isn’t extreme in either position, but instead he supports Second Amendment rights and laws that “do not place an unfair burden on legal gun owners, such as background checks, cross-checking of bulk purchases of ammunition against the background check database and magazine size restrictions.” Christopher Day clarified that his father supports magazine size restrictions, but not those as strict as Cuomo.

“No one needs 100 rounds in a magazine,” said Christopher Day, an Army veteran. “Even the US Military only carries 30 round magazines, and one person with a 100 round magazine renders a dozen concealed carry citizens completely useless in a standoff situation.”

Christopher Day also noted that his father’s resolution received bipartisan support in the legislature and was based off recommendations made from the New York Sheriff’s Association in response to the NY SAFE Act.

“The best way to deal with gun crime is to attach extremely punitive punishments for illegal possession of a firearm or commission of a crime with a firearm, and to ensure that mentally unstable persons are unable to legally purchase firearms,” he said. “Further, all of the planks he put forth in his resolution, as supported by a bipartisan coalition of legislators, were direct recommendations from the Sheriffs' Association, and nearly all dealt with closing loopholes left by the rushed and haphazard process by which the law was passed. They are eminently reasonable and supported by a broad coalition of citizens and law enforcement.”

Chris Day February 22, 2013 at 09:35 pm
I should also add that I, along with I think all other gun owners and most non gun owners, think it's patently absurd that Mr. Lacorte thinks his lack of gun ownership is somehow a qualification for the position of County Executive.
Brenda M February 22, 2013 at 09:53 pm
Stupid is as stupid does. It's the deficit stupids that the public wants fixed. Memorializing resolutions are nothing more than hot air about a topic the County Legislature can do nothing about. Stop wasting your time and our money on this nonsense.
Mike Hirsch February 22, 2013 at 09:58 pm
While it may be interesting to hear what different Rockland County politicians think about our gun control laws, it is simply political theatre. I would be more interested in knowing whether LaCorte agrees with Ilan or Ed regarding the County's Home Rule request, which would allow them to borrow more money and put us further in debt. Day is opposed, and has called for zero based budgeting. Schoenberger, as one of the stewards of our current financial disaster, is for. I would like to know which way LaCorte stands on this. Does he agree with Day or with Schoenberger? A simple answer will do.
BenRound February 22, 2013 at 10:08 pm
Mr Hirsch, you'd be best served by simply contacting Ryan Karben. He is the wizard behind Dagan LaCorte's curtain.
Brenda M February 22, 2013 at 10:51 pm
Is he one of the puppet masters pulling Lacorte's strings?
BenRound February 22, 2013 at 10:53 pm
Yes. 100%
Smitty Chesterfield February 22, 2013 at 10:58 pm
yep, and youll be sure to find the 'resignation' section an intresting read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan_Karben
Eileen McDonald February 22, 2013 at 11:33 pm
LaCorte is a joke. As unethical as his friend, a former disgraced Assemblyman. I ran into a friend who lived in Suffern until last year, read this article to him and was told LaCorte assaulted an elderly man who Castries an opponent's campaign literature during the Mayoral race. If that's true, he shouldn't run tor Executive.
Richie Himes February 22, 2013 at 11:50 pm
It's better for us. That guy can't even send a text message correctly, can you imagine if he ever got his hands on a weapon? ;-)
Richie Himes February 23, 2013 at 12:32 am
I find it incredibly hypocritic that when the Gun Control agenda is being ramrodded down our throats in the dead of night, all we hear from SOME Demorats is "this isn't a party issue, it's a safety issue."
When things swing the other way, however, the story suddenly changes and Democrats who actually stand up for gun rights are vilified by their own party because they have somehow betrayed them. I have an idea, let Dagan Lacorte learn how to send a text message before he criticizes anyone else. He's not exactly the poster boy for ethics and fair play.
Eileen McDonald February 23, 2013 at 12:37 am
I agree
Jack Moolick February 23, 2013 at 12:40 am
For my money I would put my confidence on this issue with Ed Day, the only candidate who offers clarity and common sense on the issue who has a career in law enforcement and whose son and campaign manager fought in two wars as a military officer. I ask you who has the better qualifications, a career politician whose tactics to spy on his fellow democrat (LaCaught) are severely questionable or a candidate and a campaign manager and advisor with vast experience with all types of weaponry who actually used this weaponry to protect us?
Eileen McDonald February 23, 2013 at 01:07 am
I can't agree about Ed Day. He may know about guns, but he is now a career politician. If he wasn't, he would be like Gerry Bierker. Sought to be a legislator, period. Not every former police officer or military veteran is necessarily The best choice either
Watchdog February 23, 2013 at 01:17 am
IS Karben Lacortes mentor?. If so we are in big trouble.
http://jewishsurvivors.blogspot.com/2006/05/case-of-assemblyman-ryan-karben.html http://failedmessiah.typepad.com/failed_messiahcom/2010/10/ryan-karben-fired-as-spring-valley-village-attorney-234.html What kind of candidate would choose a mentor that was forced to resign hisNYS Assembly position because of reported inappropriate conduct with male pages, later was picked up for drunk driving and after that was fired as Village Attorney for unexplained reasons by a fellow democrat? .
Jack Moolick February 23, 2013 at 01:25 am
Eileen please use your correct name if you are going to be credible. You indicated that were really another person in another blog.
As follows: Eileen McDonald 9:41 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013 Wilden is my name,, si am of Scottish descent and 57 years old. My choice to support Legislator Schoenberger is definite thanks to the comments I have seen here. As well as having read up on all 4 candidates. This Tappan resident exists. At least I use my name. ???????
Jack Moolick February 23, 2013 at 01:33 am
Wilder, Ed Day has given up any rights to a pension from his Position in the Legislature and will not seek a pension as County Executive. Does THAT sound like a career politician to you? He is the only candidate who has held a real job in the private sector while serving in the Legislature.
Eileen McDonald February 23, 2013 at 01:43 am
Typo. Wilden McDonald is my real name. I have a cast on my right arm and since it starts over the hand fling with one hand is hard and an incorrect autocorrect isn't. Helpful
Eileen McDonald February 23, 2013 at 01:43 am
Eileen
Don February 23, 2013 at 01:44 am
Ok, so he may not have your vote. However, he has the vote of many that have faith in him and are confident that he will help turn Rockland around...including a great number of those that don't even live in his district. Unlike many career politicians, he reaches out to help others. Can't be said about some of the other candidates. Ilan's own neighbors of 30 years found it difficult to vote for him (there's a big red flag), but luckily, the bloc likes him.
Don February 23, 2013 at 01:47 am
Sounds like you should be working on Lacorte's campaign.
Lynne Gweeny February 23, 2013 at 02:13 am
Ed Day has my vote
Eileen McDonald February 23, 2013 at 03:29 am
Sounds like I am having a hard time typing with one hand
Laurence Voss February 23, 2013 at 01:28 pm
Yawwwn.
Cal Mendelsohn February 23, 2013 at 02:15 pm
Hot air and bullocks as usual and avoidance of real talk about real issues like our budget deficit.What a sad state of affairs our politics have come to.
Andromachos February 23, 2013 at 02:51 pm
That page needs updating, it does not mention how Karben, LaCorte's sponsor, was fired without notice or explanation and escorted out of the building by the Mayor of Spring Valley.
Andromachos February 23, 2013 at 02:53 pm
Other than your calling Mr. Day a "career politician" do you have specific complaint about some principle or stand by Mr. Day?
And as for running for office, is one only qualified if they run for one office in their life?
GWashington February 23, 2013 at 06:59 pm
February 28th - Albany
The SAFE ACT MUST GO!! http://scopeny.org/unite_for_our_rights.html
Observer February 24, 2013 at 12:55 am
Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition?
hey Lacorte, how about setting up a coalition to erase the Representation Without Taxation that's rampant in certain sections of Rockland? that way no one gets a free ride and we can all have schools not on the brink of insolvency.
Robert T February 26, 2013 at 06:06 pm
Too late, "NS" has already have bought and paid for those votes.
AsIseeit February 26, 2013 at 06:21 pm
Ed Day has my vote as well. He is the only man with integrity here! Its ridiculous whats going on in this county! Taxes, spending, more taxes, more spending!!

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