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DelCo Sheriff Responds To Proposed “Red Flag” Gun Seizure Law
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By Lillian Browne DELHI - On Jan. 10 New York Governor Andrew Cuomo vowed to make the state’s gun laws the toughest in the nation during his annual “State of the State” address. In order to achieve that, Cuomo proposed passage of a “Red Flag” Bill that would allow the seizure of legally possessed guns from people who “show signs of being a threat to themselves or others;” a ban on guns with bump stocks, and an extension on the waiting period to purchase guns from three to 10 days. The Red Flag Bill, also known as the extreme risk protection order bill, would prevent individuals who show signs of being a threat to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing any kind of firearm. “The scourge of gun violence in our nation is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and we are not going to wait for the federal government to act on passing gun safety legislation,” Cuomo said in a press release. “New York already has the strongest gun safety laws in the nation, and we are taking additional steps to make our laws even stronger and keep our communities, and our schools, safe. Together, we will pass this common sense legislation and send a clear message to Washington that gun violence has no place in our state or nation.” If the law is passed it would allow New York teachers and school administrators to initiate court intervention to have guns removed from a student’s home. No law currently exists in New York that enables a court to issue an order to temporarily seize firearms from a person who is showing “red flags,” like violent behavior, or is believed to pose a severe threat of harm to him- or herself, or others unless that person has
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Delaware County Sheriff Craig DuMond also been accused of a crime or family offense. In addition, no state in the nation currently empowers its teachers and school administrators to pursue court intervention to prevent school shootings. The law would provide procedural safeguards to ensure that no firearm is removed without due process. Delaware County Sheriff Craig DuMond is not sure that would be the case if the law is passed. “The ‘Red Flag’ proposals are completely unneeded and will only lead to clogged court dockets, delayed responses and, more than likely, people’s rights being trampled on,” DuMond said. The system that is currently in place for gun removal from dangerous or mentally incompetent individuals works, DuMond continued. In those types of situations, DuMond said, a report can be made directly to law enforcement. There is also a system in place for medical/psychological providers to report concerns they may have in regard to firearm possession by someone under their care. In those cases, DuMond explained, law enforcement and court intervention quickly take place and an evaluation is done accordingly. See “Red Flag” page 3
One Lucky Kitty: Rescued From Tree After Four Days By Alyshia Korba DELHI - One lucky kitty is safe at home thanks to the kindness of a stranger.
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The scene at a residence on Stoodley Hollow Road, Hamden, after a structure fire on Jan. 22. By Lillian Browne HAMDEN - An early morning fire on Jan. 22, the cause of which has not yet been determined, resulted in a total loss to a Hamden home and equipment, according to Walton Fire Chief Frank Wood.
Walton fire fighters were called to the fire at 6:22 a.m., which was spotted by a Walton Highway Department employee. Bitterly cold temperatures froze fire fighting apparatus at the scene, Wood said, but made no difSee Total Loss page 5
ACQUITTED: DelCo Jury Issues Not Guilty Verdict In Sidney Assault
Conflicting Testimony, Lack of Evidence Clears Man of Felony Charge By Lillian Browne DELHI - It took 28 minutes of deliberation for a jury of nine men and three women to clear a Guilford man of a felony assault charge in Delaware County Court on Thursday, Jan. 17. Jeremiah A. Craver, 35, Guilford, was found not guilty of first-degree assault after approximately a day and a half of testimony.
Conflicting testimony was given by the accuser, Josh Thomas of Sidney, who told police officers and hospital staff that he did not see who hit him or even know what had happened. He was walking toward the rear exit of the Community Lounge in Sidney, he said, “When the next thing I know, I was out,” Thomas stated in a deposition given to Sidney Police. “I did not see who hit me or with what,” Thomas’ written statement continued.
Thomas later changed his story after his girlfriend, Jessica Laxton, provided him a policeline-up-like array of photographs from various Facebook accounts. One of those photographs was of Craver, who was at the Community Lounge the night of the incident. Thomas testified that he saw Craver in the bar that night, playing pool, but that he did not See AQUITTED page 4
When Bryttni Gardepe and her son found their cat high up a tree, they thought that she would be able to climb back down on her own. However, after three nights and temperatures in the single-digits, they knew they needed help. The Gardepe family adopted the 8-month-old former barn cat who was named Robot by their son. Gardepe and her son first noticed Robot in the tree when they went out to meet the school bus one morning. “I thought ‘It’ll come down,’” Gardepe said. “Well four days later it did not come down the tree.” Robot was too far from the road for the fire department to reach her, so Gardepe reached out for help on the See Lucky Kitty page 6
Joshua Shepard/The Reporter
Several witnesses testified that an assault occurred at the Community Lounge in Sidney on April 15, 2017.