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Gillibrand Tells Newsday She Keeps Rifles Under The Bed
By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 16, 2009
Modified Feb 16, 2009
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By
Jen Chung
Published Feb 16, 2009
Modified Feb 16, 2009
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Oh, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. One moment, you're saying you need shooting lessons from Mayor Bloomberg. The next you're telling Newsday that you and your husband keep two rifles in your bed. Gillibrand said to Newsday, "If I want to protect my family, if I want to have a weapon in the home, that should be my right."
A Gillibrand aide later told Newsday that the Gillibrands have "gun safety procedures to ensure family safety," you know, since they have two young children, "but declined to say what steps" were taken. Chief of staff Jess Fassler also said one of the rifles was one the Senator won "at a county fair while campaigning. He said New York does not require anyone to register rifles." Gillibrand, whose views on guns are sort of changing, will be visiting Long Island, home of Rep. Carolyn McCarthy, whose husband was killed and son seriously wounded in the "Long Island Rail Road Massacre," lamented Gillibrand's gun control views last month, saying she'd run against Gillibrand in the 2010 primary or support someone who did.
The new Senator told Newsday she's not flip-flopping on her gun stance, saying her evolution is "broadening my focus on an issue to make sure I can be a leader in areas that I think are essential as a New York senator to protect our communities." And, referring to the city's limitations on gun ownership, "It's a false debate. it's political rhetoric that's sucking you in to believe that hunters owning a gun or an American citizen who wants to protect his home owning a gun somehow increases gun violence."
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kirsten gillibrand
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senator gillibrand
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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