Second Amendment Legal Update, November 2024

A monthly update, prepared for the Schuyler County Chapter of S.C.O.P.E. NY, a statewide 501(c)4 organization dedicated to preserving the 2nd Amendment rights for the residents of New York State. For a complete copy of this month’s report, click here.

New York State Announces Election Protection Hotline Ahead of November General Election

Voters Experiencing Problems Can Consult Frequently Asked Questions, Call (866) 390-2992, or Request Assistance Online

The hotline will be available to troubleshoot and resolve a range of issues encountered by voters, including issues voting by absentee

ballot, early mail ballot, or in-person at their polling place. The telephone hotline will be open between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM during early voting (Saturday, October 26 through Sunday, November 3), and between 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM on Election Day, Tuesday, November 5. The hotline will also be available the day before and after Election Day, Monday, November 4 and Wednesday, November 6, between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM.

Written requests for assistance may be submitted at any time through the online complaint form.

A guide addressing frequently asked questions is also currently available to assist voters with, among other things, the absentee and early mail ballot process and voter registration issues.

New Yorkers warned: be cautious in charitable giving for hurricane relief

New York State officials are reminding New Yorkers seeking to provide support to victims of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton to look Out for Sham Charities and make sure to give to trustworthy organizations. New Yorkers seeking to donate to disaster relief efforts should consider the following tips and guidelines:

• Solicited by Email? Find Out Who Is Soliciting.
• Be Careful When Giving Through Social Media or Other Fundraising Sites. Before giving through social media or fundraising sites, research the identity of the organizer of the fundraising efforts and ask the same questions you would of a charity.
• Check Before Giving. Donate to charities you are familiar with and carefully review information about the charity before you give.

• Ask How Your Donation Will Be Used. Find out how the charity plans to use your donation, including the services and individuals your donation will support.
• Look Into Newly Formed Organizations Carefully. While most of these organizations are well-intentioned, and some may provide innovative forms of assistance, some may not have the experience or infrastructure to follow through on their promises, and some may turn out to be scams.
• Exercise Caution Before You Text A Contribution. Check the charity’s website or call the charity to confirm it has authorized contributions to be made via text message.
• Don't Give Cash. Give directly to the charity either by check made payable to the organization or through the charity's website.
• Be Careful About Personal Information. Be cautious before giving credit card or personal information over the phone, by text message, or via the internet.

Residents who suspect an organization is misrepresenting its work, or that a fundraising or charitable scam is taking place, can file a complaint with the Charities Bureau, or call 212-416-8401.

For more information on avoiding charity scams and how to better determine if a charity is legitimate, click here.

Law Day 2025 theme announced

The American Bar Association has announced that the 2025 Law Day theme will be The Constitution's Promise: Out of Many, One:

The Constitution enshrines our collective responsibility to one another, and the 2025 Law Day theme urges us to take pride in a Constitution that bridges our differences to bring us together as a united nation. Our civic lives tie us together as one “We,” whether through legislative efforts that serve the common good, through military service, or by working together, every day, to fulfill the promise of E pluribus unum, or “Out of many, one.”

Law Day is an annual commemoration held on May 1st to celebrate the rule of law and cultivate a deeper understanding of the legal system.

For more information on Law Day, click here.

Second Amendment Legal Update, October 2024

A monthly update, prepared for the Schuyler County Chapter of S.C.O.P.E. NY, a statewide 501(c)4 organization dedicated to preserving the 2nd Amendment rights for the residents of New York State. For a complete copy of this month’s report, click here.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence Awareness Month is an opportunity to Start the Conversation about this important issue in all aspects of your life and show those impacted by domestic violence

that they are not alone. Whether you share the NYS Domestic and Sexual Violence Hotline number, join one of our Domestic Violence 101 trainings, or wear purple on October 19 for #PurpleThursday, this page is designed to share ways you can be an ally this October and all year long!

Here are some highlights of this month’s activities:

• Every Tuesday in October: Domestic Violence 101.
• October 1: New York State Assets lit up in purple
• October 17-19: The New York State Clothesline Project in the Empire State Plaza Concourse. The exhibit will focus on providing a platform for survivors to help them break the silence surrounding their abuse.
• October 19: Wear purple in honor of #PurpleThursday
• October 19: New York State Assets lit up in purple
• October 25: Start the Conversation: Engaging Men and Boys panel at Syracuse University
• All October: A social media campaign to help people #StartTheConversation in all aspects of their life

And locally, on Oct. 10 in Schuyler County, members of the community will gather in LaFayette Park in Watkins Glen from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

New York State Courts Launch Constitution Day Essay Contest to Promote Civic Engagement

News Advisory:

In celebration of the signing of the United States Constitution on (September 17) in 1787, the New York State Unified Court System (UCS) is launching an essay contest to highlight the importance of this vital document and inspire civic pride and engagement among young New Yorkers. The aim of the competition is to energize high schoolers statewide to critically examine the principles set forth in our nation’s Constitution. Essay contest participants will receive a Certificate of Participation and a pocket size U.S. Constitution, with the essays of the first, second and third place winners to be featured on the New York State Unified Court System’s public website.

****

Essay submissions must underscore the Constitution’s significance in fostering civic >participation. Submissions must not exceed 500 words and only one submission per student is allowed. Each entry must be original and composed by the student submitting it; must not have won a prize before; and must not violate any copyright laws. Participants must email their essay as a PDF to civic-engagement@nycourts.gov with the subject line “Constitution Day Essay Contest.” The submission deadline is October 27, 2024

.

For more information on the contest, click here.

Schuyler County Honors Sept. 17 as Constitution and Citizenship Day

 

The Schuyler County Legislature is recognizing Tuesday (September 17) as Constitution and Citizenship Day.

 

The legislature’s resolution, drafted by County Attorney Steven Getman, urges civil and educational authorities of states, counties, cities and towns to make plans for the proper observance of the day and “for the complete instruction of citizens in their responsibilities and opportunities as citizens of the United States, and of the state and locality in which they reside.”

 

The resolution was approved at the legislature’s September 9 meeting.

 

September 17 is the anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution, which, the county resolution notes, "is the supreme law of the land and the document by which the people of this country self-govern."

 

In remembrance of the signing of the Constitution and in recognition of the Americans who strive to uphold the duties and responsibilities of citizenship, the Congress, by joint resolution on Feb. 29, 1952 (36 U.S.C. 106), designated September 17 as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.

 

A complete copy of the county’s resolution is available here.

Schuyler County rabies clinic to be held September 19

Schuyler County Public Health will be holding a Rabies Clinic on Thursday, September 19th from 6 PM to 7:30 PM.

6:00 pm-6:45 pm: Cat and ferrets only

6:45 pm-7:30 pm: Dogs, cats, and ferrets

The clinic will be held at the Shared Services Building (910 S Decatur Street in Watkins Glen).

More information can be found here.

New Yorkers warned: Beware of Investment Scams Using AI-Manipulated Videos

New York State officials have issued an investor alert warning New Yorkers about scams that are luring potential investors with fake videos created with artificial intelligence (AI) to show celebrities and business leaders touting fraudulent investment schemes.

Deepfake investment scams target victims online with AI-manipulated videos that show wealthy individuals like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Warren Buffet apparently touting the scammers’ investment schemes, which often involve cryptocurrency. Scammers use AI tools to manipulate existing videos to change the voice and mouth movements of the individuals to create seemingly genuine endorsements for their frauds. These videos are then served to social media users as advertisements or broadcast as fake livestreams on platforms like YouTube. Scammers may also pose as government officials or other people in order to gain victims’ trust. The

accessibility of AI tools allows scammers to produce ads for their frauds at scale with a variety of impersonations to target a wide range of potential victims. It can be difficult to tell from the video alone if it is a deepfake.

Once their victims show interest in the supposed investment, scammers may try to move the conversation off of public social media into encrypted private messaging services such as Whatsapp or Signal. After the victims have made an initial investment on the fraudulent platforms described in the ads, scammers will often create fake websites showing the investment increasing in value and encourage victims to send more money. After making more investments, sometimes totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars, victims will be unable to withdraw their funds or will be asked to pay more in withdrawal fees or “taxes.” Eventually, the scammers will cut off contact, having pocketed the victim’s money from the first investment. Even worse, victims may be later contacted by services that suggest they can retrieve their funds, only to end up draining more of the victims’ net worth.

According to officials, these AI-manipulated videos, known as deepfakes, often appear in social media feeds, digital ads, and messaging apps and are expected to fuel billions of dollars in fraud every year.

Anyone who may have been a victim of this type of scam is urged report it to local law enforcement or to the New York State Attorney General by filing a complaint online or calling 1-800-771-7755.