Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone found himself stymied for over a day as the cumbersome system lurched forward. It should have been and previously was a quick stop into the local gun shop for the shells.
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But that was before New York’s punitive new law took effect.
Quattrone described going to the store on Sept. 22. The shells were intended to be used for a trap/skeet shoot organized to benefit a new nonprofit.
“Prior to being permitted to purchase the ammunition, the store spent the 15 minutes or so entering my data into their computer to complete the background check,” the sheriff explained. “The status came back ‘Delayed.’ We waited another 15 minutes with no update, so I had to leave the store without completing the purchase.”
It was 25 hours before Quattrone’s transaction was finished. The fundraiser ended an hour before.
The sheriff recounted that before the new state law, he could have bought the ammo from the club holding the shoot. That practice is now on hold.
Quattrone said the state provided conflicting information when asked about clubs selling ammunition during events. Out of an abundance of caution, no sales are allowed until clarity is provided.
The sheriff noted that the new law is having little or no effect on violent crime. Instead, it merely sets up good people to be forced to wait or even be denied the simple right to buy ammunition.
“I do not believe that this regulation is making our community any safer but is actually hindering law-abiding sportsmen and gun owners from being able to purchase ammunition,” Quattrone explained. Safe practice is being held up in a misguided attempt at even more gun control.
