Phillips announces more endorsements, Haber presents anti-gun violence plan

Republican candidate Elaine Phillips announced a number of endorsements this week, while her opponent in the 7th Senate District race, Democrat Adam Haber, released his anti-gun violence platform.
On Monday, Phillips, the Flower Hill Village mayor, received the backing of four  groups from the Fire Department of New York that represent more than 10,000 New York City firefighters, EMT’s, paramedics, dispatchers and other emergency first responders.
“I was there on the morning of Sept. 11, when the images of FDNY firefighters rushing into the burning Twin Towers was etched into our memories, and the world witnessed the courage, dedication and professionalism of New York’s first responders,” she said. “Last week, we were reminded once again of the tremendous risk and sacrifice they face every day to keep us safe, when we mourned another brave FDNY officer who sacrificed his life to keep the public safe.”
“That is why I am so humbled and grateful to these everyday heroes for their support,” Phillips added.
The FDNY Uniformed Firefighters Association and Uniformed EMT’s, Paramedics and Fire Inspectors Local 2507, Uniformed Fire Alarm Dispatchers Benevolent Association and the Uniformed EMS Officers Union Local 3621 all announced their endorsements Monday.
Many of the members represented by the four groups, according to the Phillips campaign, live on Long Island and serve as volunteer firefighters as well as in school and community organizations.
“In the Senate, the men and women of the FDNY know that they can count on me to have their backs, ensuring that they will always have the tools and equipment they need to do their jobs safely and effectively, and to serve as their voice,” Phillips said.
On Tuesday, she received the endorsements of two groups representing school administrators and supervisors across the state.
The Council of Administrators and Supervisors, which represents Long Island schools, and the Empire State Supervisors and Administrators Association, which has more than 3,500 members across the state, announced their endorsement of Phillips.
“Long Island’s top notch public schools are admired and respected all across the nation, and a key reason why families want to live and work here, and that’s because of the hard work and dedication of teachers, administrators and professionals,” she said. “In the Senate, I will be the voice of educators and parents in fighting for our fair share of state aid from Albany, and will stand up to the bureaucrats who want to replace learning with more standardized testing and red tape.”
On Wednesday, Haber, a Roslyn school board trustee, announced his four-point anti-gun violence platform, which aims to keep guns away from children, prevent suspected terrorists from purchasing guns and giving law enforcement officers the tools needed to fight gun violence.
“As a school board trustee, my top priority has always been ensuring the safety of our children, especially from the disturbing trend of gun violence and mass shootings in our nation,” he said. “The Safe Act is one of the strictest anti-gun violence policies in the nation, and I’m committed to not only defending it, but putting forth further common-sense laws to keep our children and communities safe.”
The first part of Haber’s plan calls for him to fight  efforts to repeal  the state’s SAFE act, which sets requirements for universal background checks on gun purchases, increases penalties for those using illegal guns and mandates life in prison without parole for anyone who kills a first responder.
The state Senate Republican majority had voted to repeal portions of the SAFE act, but  the state Assembly did not.
The second point of his plan is to pass Nicholas’ Law for safe gun storage. The proposed law is named after 12-year-old Nicholas Naumkin, who was shot and killed by a friend playing with his father’s gun in 2010.
The legislation requires guns to be locked away by the owner if he or she is not in possession of the weapon.
The third point of the plan aims to give law enforcement officers the ability to trace criminals through their guns and ammunition using a technology called “microstamping.”
Microstamping technology places a unique code on shell casings when a semi-automatic pistol is fired, according to New Yorkers Against Gun Violence.
According to the Haber campaign, the technology would allow law enforcement to “more easily capture the thousands of perpetrators of gun violence who are able to remain a threat to our communities.”
The final part of the plan calls for Haber to support the Deny Firearms to Dangerous Terrorists Act, a bill that would prevent those on the federal no-fly list or terrorist screening database from receiving a gun license.
The legislation would also repeal any current licenses owned by such persons.
“It is reprehensible that the proposals I am committing to fight for, although common sense for community members like us, continue to be blocked by the Senate Republican majority or are at risk of being repealed,” Haber said. “It is further proof why we desperately need new leadership in Albany, not their handpicked candidates who will continue this dangerous trend.”
“As state senator, I will always choose the safety of our children and communities over pandering to extremists like the NRA and corporate gun lobby,” he added.
Phillips’ campaign spokesman, Chris McKenna, said she has often spoken out against gun violence and her plans are supported by law enforcement groups.
“Elaine Phillips has repeatedly spoken out against gun and gang violence, and about her plans to give law enforcement the tools they need to get dangerous, illegal guns off our streets,” McKenna said. “It’s why she’s been endorsed by 19 different police organizations who recognize that she is the stronger candidate to support law enforcement and help keep our communities safe.”
Reach reporter Joe Nikic by e-mail at jnikic@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516.307.1045 x203. Also follow us on Twitter @joenikic and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.