The NY SAFE Act law requires people with even lifetime permits to “recertify.” In other words, the word “lifetime” only means for as long as the state of New York thinks it should last. NY Governor Andrew Cuomo is kind of like Darth Vader here:

However, there are problems. A whole pile of folks haven’t recertified, and at least one lawmaker states that many of his constituents haven’t been notified they need to.

That lead Republicans in New York–yes, apparently such a thing really does exist–to introduce a bill that will push back the deadline for recertification.

Two New York Republicans want to pump the brakes on a problematic plan to recertify 1.25 million pistol permit holders and kick it down the road.

The permits, required to own a handgun in the state, are set to expire at the end of the month due to the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act, signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2013. The problem is that most facing the mandatory recertification haven’t done so, with Assemblyman Marc Butler advising only 204,000 have recertified as of last month.

“This bureaucratic quagmire concerning pistol recertification is a real threat which could turn many otherwise law-abiding citizens into criminals,” said Butler, stressing additional time is needed to sort the problem out. “The mess that is growing out of the pistol permit recertification requirement is one of the many concerns I had over the governor’s so-called SAFE Act.”

Legislation submitted by Butler this week in company with Assemblyman Brian Miller would set a new deadline of Jan. 31, 2019. Miller says the “rushed and reckless” implementation of the SAFE Act has now left potentially hundreds of thousands of handgun owners with lifetime permits in a lurch.

This is a logical and reasonable response, one that should engender bipartisan support.

Which, of course, means that it’ll never fly. Democrats who control the assembly will probably refuse to advance this bill, and even if they do, then it has to go through the Senate and finally, onto Cuomo’s desk.

When has Governor Cuomo presented any evidence he was a just and reasonable man when it comes to firearms?

This is a man who has pushed for some of the most draconian gun laws in the country, and he’s proud of them. I just don’t see how he would possibly look at this and recognize how this is an olive branch, an attempt by Republicans to smooth over the insult and injury that resulted from the NY SAFE Act’s passage.

I doubt he’ll see it, and I’d be very surprised if he signed the bill. After all, I see no signs that he recognizes the act as anything less than perfect, a shining testament to his narcissism.

However, he needs to. Otherwise, he’ll create legions of new criminals, and New York law enforcement is ill-prepared to deal with that many lawbreakers.

While the vast majority would never hurt a fly, they’ll still be criminals, all because of the petulant nature of New York politics.