NYC Gun Owners Misfire in Legal Challenge - As dusk settled over the city Monday, a federal judge ruled that New York City won its showdown with handgun owners who challenged a $340 residential licensing fee as unconstitutional.  A city attorney applauded the ruling, saying the fees were needed to do the exhaustive background checks that keep New York City safe.  "The city has some of the strongest laws in the nation to ensure that guns do not fall into the hands of criminals," Michael A. Cardozo said. "Today's decision rejects a constitutional challenge to home handgun application and renewal fees, upholds our ability to conduct meaningful background checks, and helps preserve policies that have helped make New York the safest big city in the nation."

Federal judge upholds New York city home handgun fee - A federal judge on Monday ruled that a New York city fee on permits to possess a handgun at home does not violate the constitutional right to bear arms.  U.S. District Judge John Koeltl in Manhattan said the city's $340 fee for a three-year license that permits a gun owner to keep their weapon at home did not violate the right to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment.  "While it is possible to conceive of fees that are impermissible because they are so exorbitant as to deter the exercise of the protected activity ... there is no showing that the $340 handgun licensing fee qualifies as such a fee," Koeltl said.

Kimber Opposes New York Firearm Microstamping Legislation - Kimber Mfg., Inc., one of America’s leading firearms manufacturing companies located in Yonkers, has announced strong opposition to both the proposed microstamping legislation and its inclusion in the budget (AB 9055C) under consideration by the New York State General Assembly. In addition to the Governor’s office, Kimber has contacted the Mayor of Yonkers and a number of elected representatives regarding this issue.

Legislative Day Raises Awareness for Sportsmen and Second Amendment Rights - Assemblyman Will Barclay (R,C,I—Pulaski) said Tuesday he was pleased to meet with sportsmen in Albany as part of the annual Sportsmen and Outdoor Recreation Legislative Awareness Day.  The event featured a keynote speech from Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice President & CEO of the National Rifle Association (NRA), on the importance of ensuring the Second Amendment Constitutional Freedoms of all law-abiding New Yorkers.  Tom King, President of the New York State Rifle and Pistol Association (NYSRPA), industry leaders and thousands of outdoor enthusiasts from across the state attended this free event.

Hunting weapons may be banned in Hopkinton - If a law is passed this month, it could be illegal to possess a firearm on property owned by the town of Hopkinton. The local law would prohibit people from having any hunting devices including traps. According to the town documents, the purpose of the law is to protect the peace and safety of residents.

Here is a draft copy of the proposed ordinance (pdf).

Here is a link to local elected officials.

March 15 Update: Hopkinton supervisor declares weapons law ‘dead’ - Town Supervisor Marvin E. Rust said a proposed weapons law, which many viewed as a townwide weapons ban, was “dead” on Wednesday afternoon following a meeting with state Department of Environmental Conservation officials.