After the July murders of four New Yorkers by an unbalanced shooter from Nevada, Democrats and other gun control addicts quickly seized on the tragedy and used it to push for their favorite gun control laws. In fact, they seemed to talk more about gun control than about the people killed and injured.
On August 15, Representative Daniel Goldman, a Democrat from New York’s 10th Congressional District, introduced House Resolution 656 “Condemning the tragic act of gun violence on July 28, 2025, in New York City that led to one of the deadliest mass shootings in the city’s history, and calling for stronger, comprehensive Federal action to prevent gun violence nationwide.”
Goldman’s sole cosponsor is Jerry Nadler of the nearby 12th District. Nadler has never disguised his disdain for a citizen’s right to own, let alone carry, a gun. He was also more than willing to leverage his former position as the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2023.
It’s easy to see that the resolution’s primary focus is on pushing gun control. Only 35% of the resolution is even about the victims: It should have been 100 percent.
It is almost like the gun-grabbers shed crocodile tears, share hugs, and launch into their usual spiel. On second thought, it’s exactly what they do.
H. Res. 656 repeatedly criticizes Nevada’s supposedly weak gun control laws. In fact, Goldman and Nadler assert that Nevada is a threat to New York. However, Nevada has universal background checks and red flag laws, two of the measures Goldman and Nadler specifically demand in their resolution.
Giffords gave Nevada a B- on their annual gun law scorecard. The same grade went to Colorado, Michigan, New Mexico, and Virginia. Only six states – California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Washington – got an ‘A’.
The NYC killer used a homebuilt AR with a Palmetto State Armory PA-15 lower. Goldman described it as a “(M)ilitary-style semiautomatic rifle that would be unlawful to possess under New York’s assault weapons ban but was assembled legally in Nevada, a State with weaker gun laws and regulations.”
Cue up the ever-popular absurd weapons ban, a popular topic. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has been talking that up a lot since the July incident.
From his soapbox, Goldman claims the, “(P)atchwork of state gun laws in the United States undermines public safety and the will of the people in States with strong gun safety laws, such as New York, who remain at the mercy of the weakest gun laws in the country.”
Goldman and Nadler don’t care about the will of the people in other states, including the 29 constitutional carry states. Of course, in New York, the “will of the people” means the will of the people in blue counties. The same is true in Illinois, where Cook County rules the roost.
I am not sure whether it’s arrogance or cowardice for New York to demand the other states protect it by giving up their constitutionally protected rights so the Empire State can continue its 114 years of oppressive gun laws. It’s long past time New York allowed its citizens to protect themselves, just like those of us fortunate enough to live in the free states.
Goldman, demonstrating either Olympic-class chutzpah or monumental stupidity, claims universal background checks, red flag laws, and, of course, an absurd weapons ban, could have prevented the NYC shooting. Not stopped; prevented. Maybe somebody should tell him California has all of New York’s gun control laws. It’s also had more real mass shootings than any other state in the Union.
I would love to be able to call him out on his claims but I would be just as satisfied if a member of Congress, like Texan Chip Roy or Thomas Massie of Kentucky, asked the same questions. It’s high time somebody did.
It’s worth reading House Resolution 656. It is short and filled with pompous malarkey.
The gun grabbers make fun of “thoughts and prayers,” but those are heartfelt, and they don’t come with a sales pitch.
About Bill Cawthon
Bill Cawthon first became a gun owner 55 years ago. He has been an active advocate for Americans’ civil liberties for more than a decade. He is the information director for the Second Amendment Society of Texas.
