Stec, Simpson Announce Bill to Exempt Adirondack, Catskill Parks From New State Gun Control Law

Senator Dan Stec (R,C-Queensbury) and Assemblyman Matt Simpson today announced legislation protecting Adirondack Park gun owners from the state’s new gun control law. Senate bill S9498 (Assembly bill number pending) would exempt state forest preserve land in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks from the prohibition of firearms. 

Stec drafted the bill in the aftermath of conflicting statements from state Democrat leaders on how the recently passed gun control legislation impacts Adirondack Park residents. Some officials, including spokesperson for Governor Hochul, have stated that the law has no effect on gun ownership in the region. Others however, including Assemblymembers and Senators of both parties from the region, have cited it as a major reason they voted against the new law.  

Instead of confusion and conflicting statements, Stec is sponsoring this bill to provide resolution and clarity to the region’s many law-abiding gun owners. 

“Adirondack Park residents deserve better than vague answers and conflicting statements from the governor’s office and state legislators over the intent and application of their gun control law,” said Stec. “Instead, let’s do the correct and simple thing and pass my bill to exempt the Adirondack and Catskill Parks from this law. 

“If the governor and Senate Democrats agree that their rushed legislation has no impact on law-abiding gun owners, then codifying that into law should be a no-brainer,” he added. “Let’s not drag out this confusion any longer and provide our gun owners with the resolution they need and deserve.” 

“In the week since the Governor called a special emergency session to push through a flawed, hastily written, and incredulously vague law to oppress our State’s law-abiding gun owners, we have seen mounting confusion and contradictory interpretations from the Majority Democratic party on what the bill even allows,” Simpson said.  

“To avoid frivolous prosecution of law-abiding citizens vulnerable to the vagueness of such strict laws, we must address this inconsistency by explicitly stating that state forest preserve land located in the Adirondack and Catskill Parks are exempt from the sensitive areas listed in the bill,” he concluded.