Voters warned about election crimes ahead of the November 2020 election

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a warning to educate voters about federal election crimes and how to avoid them, and to encourage voters to report suspected violations.

According to the warning, election crimes fall into four broad categories:

• Ballot fraud
• Campaign finance violations
• Patronage offenses
• Civil rights violations, such as voter suppression or voter intimidation

“While individual states and localities have the constitutional authority and responsibility to manage elections and have their own election laws,” the FBI notes, “an election crime becomes a federal crime when one or more of the following occurs”:

• A ballot includes one or more federal candidates
• Election or polling place officials abuse their office
• The conduct involves false voter registration
• The crime is motivated by hostility toward minority protected classes
• The activity violates federal campaign finance law

The release also notes that individual states and localities have the constitutional authority and responsibility to manage elections and have their own election laws. Voters are urged to know the law, know their rights and report any suspected election crimes to the appropriate law enforcement or elections authorities. For more information, click here.

Schuyler County SCOPE To Make Free Gun Locks Available In Schuyler County Through Partnership With County Attorney

The Schuyler County Chapter of Shooters Committee on Political Education (SCOPE) in conjunction with the Office of Schuyler County Attorney Steven Getman, is giving away free cable-style gun locks to Schuyler County families.

The locks can be obtained from the County Attorney’s Office by calling 607.535.8121 during normal business hours and scheduling a pickup time. One lock will be available per household and will be provided on a “first come, first serve” basis. Supplies are limited.

“We are pleased to have the Schuyler County Attorney’s Office as a partner in this educational program” said Daniel Phillips, Schuyler County SCOPE Secretary. “The mission of SCOPE is to educate the public on the importance of our Constitutional right to keep and bear arms, as well as to make every effort to educate anti-gun politicians. We can help accomplish this by promoting responsible voluntary gun safety measures for gun owners that do not conflict with the Second Amendment.”

“Partnering with County Attorney Getman allows SCOPE to participate in a countywide effort to promote firearms safety education and increase awareness of just one of Governor Cuomo’s many gun laws. We are 100% membership funded and made up of concerned gun owners and conservation clubs across New York State.”

According to Getman, the giveaway will also help ensure that gun owners are in compliance with New York’s strict firearms storage laws, which require them to lock up their firearms while living in a home with someone under the age of 16.

“We encourage county residents to pick up a free lock so that they can securely store their firearm,” said Getman. “The locks fit on most types of handguns, rifles and shotguns. The cable is threaded through the weapon and blocks the barrel or the use of ammunition. It’s secured by a padlock and key.”

“The goal is to prevent a young child or other unauthorized person from accessing a firearm in the home.”

Phillips and Getman noted that the locks have been donated by SCOPE and, therefore, there is no county charge to the taxpayers for this service.

SCOPE is a non-partisan statewide 501(c)4 organization dedicated to educating the public about firearm ownership, Second Amendment rights and legislation. The Schuyler County chapter’s meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 7:00 pm in January, March, May, October and as necessary at the Montour Falls Moose Lodge, 2096 Co Rd 14, Montour Falls, NY 14865.

The Schuyler County Attorney is the legal advisor to the county legislature, county administrator and other county officials. In addition, the county attorney prosecutes family court cases of child abuse and neglect, juvenile delinquency and other civil matters on behalf of county officials.

Schuyler County Honors Sept. 17 as Constitution and Citizenship Day

The Schuyler County Legislature is recognizing Thursday (Sept 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 Sept. 14 meeting.

Sept. 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 Sept.17 as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.

SCHUYLER COUNTY LEGISLATURE... by Steven Getman

New law gives New York Judges authority to waive surcharges and fees for people under 21

New York courts now have broad discretion to waive surcharges and fees where the judge finds that the person being sentenced was under the age of 21 at the time of the offense and that:

· the waiver is in the interests of justice;
· the imposition of the surcharge or fee would work an unreasonable hardship on the defendant, the defendant’s immediate family, or any other person dependent on the defendant for support; or
· after considering the goal of promoting successful and productive reentry and reintegration), the imposition of the surcharge or fee would adversely impact the defendant’s reintegration into society.

The new law was effective August 24, 2020 and the full text is available here.

Second Amendment Legal Update: September 2020

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.