To the Editor:
Last month I was proud to introduce the ACCESS (Albany County Commitment to Ensuring a Safe Society) Local Law F to the Albany County Legislature.

If passed, what the ACCESS law does is simple — it will require any weapon/firearms dealer to prominently display a sign disclosing the safety risks of firearms in their store. This warning sign will also include the numbers for the Mobile Crisis Team as well as the 988 National Suicide and Crisis Hotline.

We all know that we need to do more to prevent gun violence, which has robbed far too many lives.  We’ve already seen quick and decisive action taken by Governor Kathy Hochul and our state legislature following the tragedies in Buffalo and Uvalde, strengthening concealed carry restrictions, requiring background checks for all ammunition purchases, and banning the sale of hard body armor, as well as providing $13.6 million dollars in additional funding to fight gun violence.

We have to do everything we can at all levels of government to stem the horrific tide of gun violence plaguing our nation. As the author and lead sponsor of the ACCESS law, I’m proud to help lead those efforts at the county level here in Albany.

Next Tuesday, July 26, at 7:15 p.m., the Albany County Legislature will hold a public hearing on ACCESS Local Law F. The public hearing is conducted over Zoom; you can make comments remotely or send in written testimony if you cannot attend virtually.

Registration is required — you just need to email and provide your name, address, phone number, if you can attend the Zoom and that you’d like to speak on ACCESS Local Law F. If you have any questions on the legislation, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at 518-387-9037 or at dustin.reidy@albanycountyny.gov.

At the public hearing next Tuesday, please make your voice heard in support of Local Law F and to help end gun violence. Thank you.

Dustin Reidy

Guilderland

Editor’s note: Dustin Reidy, a Democrat, represents part of Guilderland in District 30 of the Albany County Legislature.