THE BAN ON ASSAULT WEAPONS AND OTHER LIMITS TO INCLUDE THE NUMBER OF ROUNDS IN A MAGAZINE IS EXPECTED TO SAIL THROUGH THE ASSEMBLY WHEN IT CONVENES THIS (TUESDAY) MORNING. AS EXPECTED, THE VOTE OF INDEPENDENT DEMOCRATS ENSURED ITS PASSAGE IN THE SENATE.

ALL THREE SENATORS REPRESENTING ST.LAWRENCE COUNTY, PATTY RITCHIE, JOE GRIFFO, AND BETTY LITTLE, ALL REPUBLICANS VOTED NO. DESPITE THE VOTES AGAINST THE PACKAGE, ALL THREE HAVE SAID THERE WERE PARTS OF THE PACKAGE THEY LIKE. LITTLE SAYS THE SHUTDOWN OF PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS IN PAST DECADES WAS THE START OF A LONG TREND FOR THE STATE NOT SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE WHOSE NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT IS GENUINE.

LITTLE SAYS THERE IS PLENTY OF FIRST-HAND EVIDENCE TO CONVINCE HER FOR THE NEED TO KEEP MENTALLY-UNHEALTHY PEOPLE AWAY FROM DEADLY WEAPONS:

LITTLE, GRIFFO AND RITCHIE AGREE THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES NEED TO BE DEALT WITH, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PRESERVE THE SECOND AMENDMENT.