SCHENECTADY — Steven Baker drew applause from the large crowd gathered in a room at the central branch of Schenectady County Library when he stood up Wednesday and proclaimed that his guns are "sporting firearms" and not weapons.

"The Legislature can call it what they want, my guns are not weapons," said the Knox resident, who asked veteran State Police officials several questions about the recently passed state New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act of 2013, more commonly known as NY Safe Act.

The law is aimed at keeping guns of potentially dangerous mental health patients and bans high capacity magazines and assault weapons.

But Baker, 64, and many others who attended the information session said that it mostly penalizes law-abiding gun owners like him.

"I do not believe it (law) will save one life, prevent one school shooting, and take one gun out of the hand of a criminal," he said, noting that his three rifles are now illegal under the new gun law legislation.

Sgt. James Sherman, supervisor of the State Police pistol permit bureau, stressed to the crowd that goal of the gathering was to educate the public and not defend the law.

He was joined by Investigator Patrick Hogan with the gun investigation unit, Col. Thomas Fazio and State Police general counsel, Thomas Capezza.

The attorney explained that the reason the legislation takes effect over time is to "give people an opportunity to assess their personal situation."

"It just reflects a complicated set of circumstances and is intended to promote public safety," he added.

Together, the lawyer and lawmen fielded questions on a variety of issues, including what constitutes a large ammunition purchase, the permit recertification process and anxieties from people that could bring another fee, and which experts and professions will be called on to determine whether a person is mentally suitable to have weapons.

When pressed about the seemingly arbitrary nature of what could be viewed as a large ammunition purchase, Sherman told the audience member that the number is "fluid."

The comprehensive gun bill does not affect rifles and shotguns used by traditional sportsmen and hunters.

Matthew Caron of Galway in Saratoga County was upset that his AR-15 assault rifle in its current form that he uses for deer hunting is no longer legal under New York's gun law.

He said he is against modifying the weapon to make it legal because of safety concerns.

"I still think most of us in here do not believe this law will anything for public safety," he said, later urging those in attendance to vote out the politicians who supported the NY Safe Act.

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