Dear Friends,
Last week, the Supreme Court struck down a long-standing New York law that placed common-sense limits on carrying guns in public places and then made the abhorrent decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade.
These rulings are deeply contradictory. How can SCOTUS justify lessening the ability of states to regulate guns while expanding the ability of states to regulate a woman’s right to make decisions about whether and when to have children?
Taking away the constitutional right to abortion marks a stark new chapter in our American story. I cannot understate the life-altering effect this will have not only on millions of women today, but on the safety and freedom of those for generations to come. In anticipation of this ruling, we took steps in Albany to codify the right to choose when we passed the Reproductive Health Act in 2019 — even though every Republican voted against it. Today, in New York, abortion remains legal.
This year, the Reproductive Package we passed, and the Governor just signed, expands the protections enshrined in the RHA. We are not only serving New Yorkers going forward but also women coming here seeking medical refuge. New York will now serve as a safe haven for patients from other states as well as our healthcare providers.
On Thursday, I’ll join with my colleagues in both legislative chambers as we go back to Albany to work on legislation to mitigate the Supreme Court’s damage to our public safety and find new ways to protect New Yorkers from gun violence. One piece of legislation we’re considering is to define sensitive places where people can’t carry guns, like schools, restaurants and bars, public transportation, and large public gatherings.
These two decisions have made one thing quite clear: that we can no longer count on the Supreme Court to protect our safety and our freedoms. Guns and reproductive rights are on the ballot this November, and we all need to vote into state and federal offices people who will pass laws that represent America’s true values.
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