By JIMMY LAWTON

CANTON – A St. Lawrence County legislator wants people to attend a Finance Committee meeting where a resolution calling for changes to the SAFE Act will be discussed.

"I am asking anyone with an interest in this bill to come and address the committee, whether they are pro or con," Joseph Lightfoot R-Oswegatchie said.

The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at the county Court House.

Because it is a committee meeting, members of the public must be recognized by a member of the board before they can speak, but Lightfoot said that won't be an issue.

"Trust me, anyone that wants to talk will have their chance," he said.

The resolution being presented at the meeting says the recently passed SAFE act, aimed largely at limiting gun violence, violates second amendment rights and was unnecessarily rushed through the legislative process.

"While there are provisions of the bill that have merit, for example; increased penalty for killing emergency responders, NICS checks for private sales of firearms, safe storage provisions, mental health record review, and increased penalties for the illegal use of a weapon; other provisions of the law, which run roughshod over second amendment rights, must be reconsidered and a new law should be introduced and done so in the light of day, and it must be given the time necessary to review its provisions, engage in meaningful and constructive debate and allow public review, comment and input relative to the content of the bill," an excerpt from the resolution says.

Lightfoot said the resolution was passed out to legislators at a previous meeting, but some board members wanted more time to review it before voting on it.

"We are looking for input from the public, which the state did not allow," he said.

Lightfoot said the Finance Committee will likely vote on whether or not to send the resolution to the Board of Legislators.

He said he hopes for a good turn out from the public at the upcoming meeting.

The resolution was prepared by the SAFE act committee members Sallie Brothers D-Norfolk, Fred Morrill D-DeKalb and Lightfoot.