How efforts to strengthen New York's gun-control laws just failed

ALBANY - A battle over gun-control measures Wednesday at the state Capitol largely mirrored the national conversation, with Democrats backing tighter restrictions and Republicans opting for bolstered security in schools.

The debate played out in the state Senate chamber, where Republicans blocked Democrats' attempt to force a vote on a series of gun-control bills, including a bump stock ban, more thorough background checks and legislation allowing judges to remove guns from those found to be a danger to themselves or others.

Republicans, meanwhile, said they plan to advance legislation as soon as next week that could include money for more security cameras and armed guards at schools.

The Senate Democrats' maneuvering came two weeks after the school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, which has spurred a renewed nationwide conversation on gun-control and school-safety measures.

“The madness must stop," said Senate Minority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, D-Yonkers. "We need to get serious about gun safety and we need to take real action.”

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The Democrats' often-used, rarely successful tactic was what's known as a "hostile amendment," which allows any lawmaker to try to alter a bill on the spot when it comes to a vote on the floor.

The Senate's temporary president — a Republican — then rules whether the amendment is germane, or plausibly related to, the bill. If the president rules against it, a senator can try to appeal the decision, which takes 32 votes to overturn.

In Wednesday's case, Senate Democrats tried to attach their gun-control measures to a bill allowing hunters to register as organ donors when they apply for a license.

The Senate president ruled it wasn't germane, and there were only 29 votes to overturn the decision — three short of what was required.

All 29 votes for the appeal were Democrats, including the eight members of the Senate Independent Democratic Conference. The 32 members of the Senate Republican conference voted against the appeal or weren't in the chamber at the time.

Prior to the vote, Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan, R-Suffolk County, said Republicans have been discussing "a comprehensive school safety plan" that could come to the floor for a vote as early as next week.

He suggested the package — which would also need approval from the Democrat-led Assembly and Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo — could include more money for security cameras, armed officers at schools and better emergency-response plans.

"Schools must be safe havens, where students can learn and teachers can teach," Flanagan said in a statement. "In New York, they will be."

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat who successfully pushed for passage of the SAFE Act gun-control measures in 2013, said Wednesday that he would consider some of the bills proposed by Senate Democrats, such as giving judges the power to strip guns from dangerous people and expanding background checks.

He said he is supportive of increasing security in schools, though he said he opposes arming teachers, as President Donald Trump floated last week.

"I support security in schools," Cuomo said. "We always have. But arming teachers? No."

He touted the SAFE Act, which included a stronger ban on assault-style firearms.

Cuomo called the law the "best in the nation."

"It was ahead of its time," Cuomo said. "History has proven us right."

Cuomo may believe that to be so, but gun proponents, especially in upstate New York, beg to differ. "Repeal the SAFE Act" signs still dot the rural countryside. And gun owners still argue vociferously that the elements of "assault-style" weapons that have been banned, such as a pistol grip or folding stock, do nothing to increase the lethal capability of a rifle.

JCAMPBELL1@Gannett.com

Includes reporting by Albany Bureau Chief Joseph Spector.