Politics

Following the introduction of the SAFE Act in New York state, the Innovation Trail reporting team in conjunction with WNYC/New York Public Radio, has prepared a series of programs backgrounding the economic context for gun manufacture and retail in New York. A series of radio and web features will roll out starting Monday 4th February. Amongst the issues addressed:Matt Richmond examines the role of tax credits and other financial incentives used to to support arms manufacturing in the state.Kate O'Connell looks at research and development in the industry and finds that tradition carries more weight than innovation for both makers and customers.Ryan Delaney follows up on the future for the Remington Arms factory that anchors the Mohawk Valley town of Ilion. Do the new laws in the state really endanger jobs there?http://youtu.be/TgMM52tgwCwSarah Harris spends time with some north country gun store owners who are trying to navigate the new regulatory framework for background checks and licensing, and they're wondering whether it's worth staying in business.Joanna Richards talks with military and ex-military personnel to get their views on gun safety and ownership of miltary-style firepower by civilians, and spends time at a local gun club.Robert Lewis discovers that it's a good time to be recruiting for the NRA as he visits a long-running annual gun fair in the state's capital that attracted record crowds.http://youtu.be/UdprooUVFYk

SAFE Act supporters were also out in numbers in Albany this week

WXXI News | By Jenna Flanagan WMHT

Published April 3, 2014 at 3:47 PM EDT

On the first semi-warm day of the year, a small band of activists gathered on the third floor landing of the Capitol Building’s ‘Million Dollar Staircase’ to voice their support for the state’s year-old SAFE Act and call for more measures to reduce gun violence.

The coalitions, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence and State Legislators Against Illegal Guns stood solemnly and stoically as they shared their concerns and requests.

They touted the popularity of the law’s provisions including background checks on gun purchases and the ban on certain high powered rifles and magazines with high capacity ammunition. But it was the emotional testimonies from mothers who lost their children to gun violence that were front and center at the event.

Throughout the rally, participants consistently looked up as if they were talking, and in some cases pleading with a broader audience than those assembled.

The pro-SAFE Act rally was held just a half-an-hour before 2^nd Amendment supporters held a separate rally calling for the law to be repealed. A few anti-SAFE Act activists stood on the stairwell opposite New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, holding pro-NRA and Repeal the SAFE Act signs.

There were moments during the rally where the two sides seemed to be engaged in more of a standoff than anything else.

Despite the distractions, the SAFE Act supporters laid out their legislative priorities for the coming year.

Child Access Prevention, requiring safer gun storage requirements and trigger locks
Micro-stamping, a required feature that would imprint a code onto the shell case of every gun in the state
A Purchasing Limit of one gun a month and a 10-Day Waiting Period
Removal of firearms from domestic violence disputes
Ban on 50-Caliber military-style sniper rifles

Opponents of the SAFE Act vow to continue working to repeal the law they say was unfairly passed in the middle of the night with no warning.

Speaking at the rally in support of the repeal; real estate mogul Donald Trump and Republican gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino.