New York State Sen. Kevin Parker
As if Empire State gun laws weren’t intrusive enough, New York State Sen. Kevin Parker (D-Brooklyn) wants police to scan social media for posts from handgun license applicants.
In New York, a license is required before a handgun can be purchased, and Parker’s scheme would essentially use the First Amendment rights of would-be gun buyers to prevent them from exercising their Second Amendment rights. Privacy groups are already opposing the effort, according to CNY Central.
To some rights activists, it appears the plan is aimed at chilling the desire of anyone to own a gun. One alarming problem is that people would be disqualified if they publish “violent or hate-filled posts,” the Seattle P-I.com reported.
But critics wonder who would determine what amounts to “hate-filled” or “violent” speech? It is a proposal that gun owners feel could be abused.
Tom King, president of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association, told the Associated Press that Parker’s proposal is the start of “the slippery slope of taking away your First Amendment” rights.
According to USA Today, “Free-speech watchdogs and even some gun-control advocates have raised concerns about the bill, which would require new handgun license applicants as well as renewing license holders to turn over login information to allow investigators to look at three years’ worth of Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram postings. Google, Yahoo and Bing searches over the previous year also would be checked.”
Even more alarming, CNY Central reported that Parker’s bill “is expected to get a lot of support in Albany.”
The news agency also noted that Democrats “will soon control the state senate and assembly, as well as the governor’s office, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo has made it clear that he is going to push for what has been called “SAFE Act II” in the coming session.
While the new proposal is designed to make sure the buyer isn’t a “violent” person, there is some question about whether Parker himself would be prohibited from purchasing a gun if he so chose.
That’s because Parker has a history of violence as well as unpaid taxes according to reports in the New York Post and Ammoland.com.
Parker reportedly has a history of losing his cool and roughing up people so much so that the courts ordered him to seek anger management counseling.
The courts in the past have put Parker on a 3-year probation after being found guilty to 2 criminal mischief in the third-degree. The incident stems from a May 2009 confrontation with New York Post Photographer William Lopez.
Parker was facing prison if the jury would have convicted him on all the charges. He did lose his leadership position as majority whip and chair of the Energy Committee in the New York Senate.
But that situation wasn’t the first time Parker had used his fist in anger. According to NBC New York at the time of the assault Parker had a reputation of resorting to the use of violence when angry.
In the September of 2008 campaign aid Lucretia John accused Parker of pushing her causing her $300 glasses to be knocked off her face and that Parker proceeded to stomp on the glasses. John then called the cops on Parker.
Parker confirmed to police that he did push John and crush her glasses below his feet, but insisted that John started the fight.
Parker reportedly had a violent reputation. He was indicted on an assault charge and faced seven years in 2005 for punching a New York City traffic agent in the face. Parker escaped with a mandatory 6-month anger management class.
