UPDATED 1:41 PM
LIVINGSTON COUNTY — Tom Dougherty, candidate for Livingston County Sheriff, issued a press release Sunday announcing his position on the recently passed New York State law strengthening gun control measures, known as the SAFE Act.
Dougherty says the bill is “poorly executed” and threatens constitutional rights, and vows to actively oppose it. According to the release, Dougherty refers to the gun manufacturing and sales industry as “this important industry for our state,” and says “We will take a back seat to no one in our opposition to this law.”
Dougherty, who is an investigator for the Livingston County Sheriffs Department, is currently competing in the upcoming Republican primary against Undersheriff Jim Szczesniak. No Democrats have yet entered the race.
Szczesniak has been critical of the new law as well. He has participated in recent community forums designed to educate the community, and has publicly encouraged people to use the ‘opt out’ form that protects gun owners. Szczesniak stated in an email to the GeneseeSun.com that he feels the law should be repealed immediately.
The Republican Primary is set for September 10th of this year.