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Mario Fratto, an attorney and businessman from Ontario County who counts himself as a small-c conservative, is running for the Republican ballot line in the election for New York's newly formed 24th Congressional District. He's attempting a primary challenge on the presumptive Republican favorite, Chris Jacobs, the incumbent 27th district representative from Orchard Park.

The new, rural 24th Congressional District is enormous, geographically speaking. It runs from Lewiston eastward along Lake Ontario, south around Rochester and then north to the U.S.-Canada border, coming to rest near Watertown.

Fratto campaigned in Newfane earlier this week and pledged to return to the area every week to talk with voters in Niagara County. The day after his appearance at a Second Amendment For Ever (SAFE) meeting at Newfane Community Center, he met up with Union-Sun & Journal reporter Ben Joe to chat about his background and his campaign. Here is a partial transcript of his interview with Joe.

Q: Where did you grow up and how did that affect your values?

A: I grew up in Geneva, in Ontario County. Its a small town and a city. ... Small town USA is where the American Dream still exists. You work hard. You do the right thing. You look out for your friends and family and things should work out for you. I think thats what every American wants. ... You dont get something for nothing.

Q: What is your take on your opponent, Chris Jacobs?

A: Ill just speak on his record as a congressman. ... Chris Jacobs was a Democrat. He registered as a Democrat in the '90s ... I think when you have someone of 11 Republicans voting to strip another Republican, like Marjorie Taylor Greene, of her committee assignment, youre not really a part of the majority of the party. Eighty-five to 90 percent of Republicans wouldnt do something like that.

Q: How do you deal with this expanded district?

A: Its challenging and its definitely an advantage for somebody like Chis Jacobs who has basically unlimited funds. ... But I actually prefer grassroots. ... I mean, its easy when you have money and just put out an ad and blast it on the radio or the television. But when you need to do the hard work and go out and meet the voters to find out what their concerns are, its a different ballgame. ... It is more difficult, because of the size of the district. No question. But I think its something thats absolutely necessary.

Q: Tell me about your online channels.

A: During the initial lockdowns of March 2020, I was working at home I felt I needed to be more productive. So, I started a Facebook page called Making the Case." It was geared towards talking about the pandemic, initially, but really became just for President Trumps reelection. ... Then I started to get censored pretty heavily. I had a video on Dr Fauci, (on his opposition to) hydroxychloroquine. but (Fauci) was for Remdesivir and I put out a short video ... about that study and the conflicts involved and that video got 35,000 views. . (Then) my average views (dropped). Everything was better than any channel I could find as far as how good the numbers were, but I was getting no views. So I was getting frustrated with that. ... I ran it through my friends and family and said, What if I ran for office? This is the only way to really get the message out because they cant silence me if Im taking it right to the people.

Q: Explain your take on the economy.

A: I believe in lower taxes, less regulation, a free market economy and I also believe you have to have sound money and you cant have that when you have a printing press running at light speed right now and youre devaluing the dollar. ... So I think we need to roll that back. ... (Also there's) getting our dependence greatly reduced on China. That would help us bring back manufacturing and making products here. ... Wed be helping fellow Americans by creating jobs, but also giving them better products that are available on the ground. Theres a supply chain issue and its hard when you have to import things ... but if they were already on the ground in the United Sates, I think we can trust that we can move those goods as well.

Q: Explain your take on the environment.

A: I think its important to have a clean environment, but ... it cant be to the detriment of the people here now. Everybody wants to preserve and protect the planet for the next generation ... but what are we going to leave them if we dont make sure we have the energy we have now so we have the businesses we need to provide them with opportunities? ... (Also) we cant have countries like China or other competitors that arent following any of these rules we want to implement for ourselves. We want to talk about reducing carbon footprints and using renewable energies, but they arent doing that around the world. ... We cant just transition to wind and solar if its too expensive and its not as efficient.

Q: Explain your take on war, specifically the wars in Ukraine and Afghanistan and subsequent refugees.

A: I dont think these wars around the world should be our responsibility, unless there is direct U.S. interest. . We dont want a no fly-zone that would eventually land us in a war. I dont think anybody wants that. And Afghanistan we shouldnt have been leaving Americans on the ground. We shouldnt have been leaving people who helped us on the ground. It shouldve been handled a lot better. But I also dont think its our responsibility to take in all these refugees. Its great Poland is taking in these refugees, but I dont think Poland has the homelessness problems that we have (and)the opioid crisis thats plaguing this country. So how can we take care of those people when we cant get our senior citizens or veterans that are hooked on drugs and alcohol, who are sleeping on the street? ... What business do we have importing more people that need help if we cant help our own?

Q: What does your candidacy mean for the district?

A: It means that theres somebody in this race that is an everyday American that understands working class people, that is a working class person and who understands their needs and values, and this is an opportunity to send someone to D.C. thats actually a conservative, whos actually going to fight for the people.

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Running to represent the working class | Local News | lockportjournal.com - Lockport Union-Sun & Journal

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The co-hosts of ABC's liberal daytime gabfest "The View" spent an entire segment of Wednesday's show railing against the Second Amendment and blaming it for gun violence across the U.S.

The segment, which began with Tuesday's attack by a gunman on the New York City subway, consisted of the liberal co-hosts lamenting laws being passed in Republican states allowing for concealed carry without a permit and claiming other Western countries don't experience levels of gun violence seen in the U.S. because they have no protections for gun rights.

The co-hosts of ABC's "The View" debate the Second Amendment during a segment on April 13, 2022. (Screenshot/ABC)

NYC MAYOR ADAMS FLOATS NEW TECH, BAG CHECKS ON SUBWAY SYSTEM TO DETECT WEAPONS

"The usual allegations are being thrown around about the left being too soft on crime while at the same time, red states like Georgia are making it even easier to get guns," co-host Joy Behar said after mentioning the attack in New York City.

"This is a tragic and uniquely American problem, it seems. I dont understand why we cant solve this problem," she added, mentioning that guest co-host Julia Haart said to her before the show that other countries didn't have the same issues because "there aren't guns all over the place."

"Those countries do not have a Second Amendment and that's the difference," Behar said.

Haart claimed that the Second Amendment is "the problem" and that there is "almost no gun violence" in countries like the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.

"When you take guns away, you take away gun violence," she declared, to which Behar agreed and co-host Sunny Hostin said, "That's absolutely true."

At least 13 people injured in New York City subway shooting on April 12, 2022, officials confirm. (Armen Armenian/Facebook)

SEXTON: DEMOCRATS UNSURPRISINGLY' GO AFTER GUNS, NOT CRIMINALS AFTER BIDEN'S MORONIC HUNTING STORY

Guest co-host Alyssa Farah jumped in, arguing that there were "too many guns on the streets," but pointed to Democrats pushing "defund the police" policies as part of the reason for the rise in crime in cities across the U.S.

Hostin blamed Republicans for the rise in crime, citing their opposition to gun control measures proposed by Democrats. She then claimed that there were actually higher levels of gun violence in states and cities controlled by Republicans than in those run by Democrats.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 14: Police converge on the scene of a shooting in Brooklyn, one of numerous during the day, on July 14, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

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Farah pushed back by stating that the top ten cities with the highest crime rates were all Democrat-controlled.

The panel continued the discussion, with Hostin lamenting what she claimed was a lack of training for people handling guns without permits and Behar calling the notion that people in New York City could be allowed to carry a concealed firearm "insane."

Support for stricter gun laws has been going down, reaching its lowest point since 2014 last November with only 52% of Americans supporting the implementation of stricter gun control laws.

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'The View' rails against the Second Amendment, blames it for gun violence: 'That's the problem' - Fox News

President Joe Biden announced new regulations to curb the proliferation of so-called "ghost guns,"unserialized firearms made from kits.

Biden spoke of codifying a prohibition on manufacturing these firearms without serial numbers, requiring sellers to conduct a background check on prospective buyers, among other rules. He also detailed his desire to see assault weapons and high-capacity magazines banned.

Then the president invoked history to support his stance.

"From the very beginning, the Second Amendment didnt say you can own any gun you want, big as you want," Biden said at the press conference. "You couldnt buy a cannon when, in fact, the Second Amendment passed."

This isnt the first time Biden made such an assertion about the Second Amendment. Or even the second.

During his presidential campaign, he made a similar claim about cannon ownership in the Revolutionary War. We rated that False.

Then, in 2021, Biden said the Second Amendment "limited the type of people who could own a gun and what type of weapon you could own." False again.

The Second Amendment did not place limits on individual ownership of cannons.

Historians have previously told PolitiFact that Biden mischaracterized the history of gun regulation and its ties to the Second Amendment.

The White House did not return PolitiFacts request for comment.

For Biden, the third time isnt the charm. We rate this claim False.

Continued here:
Joe Biden recycles false claim that the Second Amendment limited gun ownership - PolitiFact

Denver City Councils Safety, Housing, Education and Homelessness Committee on Wednesday postponed its vote on a bill restricting concealed carry in buildings owned, leased by or leased to the city, as well as Denver parks, to April 27 to give city staff more time to answer council members' questions.

The proposal is part of Mayor Michael Hancocks 2022 Public Safety Action Plan. Assistant City Attorney Reggie Nubine said this proposed legislation is part of the national conversation to reduce gun violence and came about after the state legislature passed SB21-256, allowing local governments to prohibit firearms in certain parts of a governments jurisdiction.

Exemptions would apply to law enforcement officers, military personnel in performance of duties and licensed security guards with firearms endorsements in performance of duties. People carrying for use in a legitimate sporting event would also be exempt, as well as individuals with a valid authorization at Denver shooting ranges, and those lawfully traveling with a firearm.

Proposed penalties would be no more than a $50 fine on first offense and up to a $999 fine and/or up to 300 days in jail for a second offense depending on circumstances.

Several council members wondered if this could be considered a violation of the Second Amendment, but Nubine said jurisdictions are allowed to reasonably limit constitutional rights and that this legislation could be seen as parallel to firearm bans in public schools.

You still have to follow reasonable regulations that might be enacted by the state or the local government, Nubine said. This is why we have a concealed carry permit just generally we can limit a person's ability to carry in a certain manner, in certain places as long as theres a necessity for it or theres a reasonable basis for why we are enacting that legislation.

In terms of enforcement, Assistant City Attorney Erica Rogers said people working in city buildings and parks are not responsible and are encouraged to call law enforcement if they suspect someone is carrying an unauthorized firearm. She also said signage must be displayed in prohibited areas to notify the public for the bill to be enforced, per state statute.

Nubine also clarified for council members that this doesnt apply to entities like the Denver Water building or Denver Health hospitals if the city doesnt own them despite their close association to the city. It does apply to city-owned property in other counties, though.

One of the key items many council members were curious about is data on crimes committed by concealed weapon carriers, also in city parks and facilities. Officials with the city attorneys office didnt have this information on hand, and they said theyd provide what they could before it comes back to the committee at the end of the month.

While several council members wanted to see this data to answer what problem the bill is trying to solve, Councilwoman Robin Kniech said she thinks it's important to pass legislation to set expectations based on values. She also emphasized that no one piece of legislation will completely solve a problem.

Fundamentally, do we think our community is safer with more guns walking around or less safe? Kniech said. The data is actually quite clear on this fact. Countries with fewer guns walking around are safer than our country with more guns walking around. Thats a fact that is very well researched.

After learning that this doesnt apply to parking lots weapons are allowed to be properly stored in a permitted carriers vehicle Councilwoman Candi CdeBaca, while not a voting member of the committee, said she wants data on crimes committed with guns stolen from cars, which she said the council has been repeatedly told is one of the primary ways guns are obtained.

CdeBaca also said she wants more info on other constitutional rights that are allowed to be limited or banned on public property. Additionally, she said she wants to see demographic data on who is applying for and obtaining permits for concealed carry and fully outlined protocol on how law enforcement will respond to a report of a concealed weapon.

I want to see that data as well to make sure that we are not creating more opportunities for pretextual types of interactions with police while were simultaneously trying to reduce unnecessary contact with police in historically marginalized communities, CdeBaca said. ... What were saying with this is that anyone can say theyre afraid of someone in the park, call the cops and have them checked for a concealed carry weapon whether they have proof of it.

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Denver committee postpones vote on concealed weapon ban in city-owned facilities - The Denver Gazette

A House committee advanced legislation Tuesday that would remove the permits and training that goes with it required for carrying concealed weapons. Then it approved a bill that would forbid state and local authorities to enforce future federal rules that would "chill" gun ownership in Louisiana.

But the committee also defeated a measure that would have made it harder to confiscate weapons from an abuser in a domestic relationship. And the sponsor voluntarily postponed consideration of whether property owners could to shoot-to-kill for the prevention of imminent destruction of property.

Tuesday was Gun Day in the House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice. Under the watchful eye of proponents of expanding gun rights, wearing red t-shirts, who packed the hearing room, representatives debated nine bills concerning the Second Amendment rights to bear arms.

Every bill we have discussed here today has been an infringement on the right to keep and bear arms, said Shreveport Republican state Rep. Alan Seabaugh said as he presented the last bill of the four-hour committee hearing. If the Second Amendment were read as broadly as the First Amendment as the Interstate Commerce Clause, then every single bill that were discussing here today would be unconstitutional.

Seabaughs House Bill 464 would strengthen evidence necessary when a protective order is issued that would take away the persons firearms. The level of proof is preponderance of the evidence, that is more yes than no. HB464 would raise the level of proof a court would need to consider to the clear and convincing standard that the weapons need to be removed.

New Orleans filmmaker Donna Dees testified that HB464 would remove protections added in 2014 and return Louisiana to second in the nation for the number violent acts against women using guns.

The committee voted 5-6 to reject the legislation.

Voting 10-3 along party lines, the committee approved legislation to allow people over the age of 21 to carry concealed weapons without a permit, meaning without training on how to use a handgun.

House Bill 37 sponsor Rep. Danny McCormick, R-Oil City, says he's not against training, but criminals dont often have a permit when they carry a gun. Why shouldnt a law abiding citizen have conceal carry when the criminals can, said Rep. Ray Garofalo, R-Chalmette.

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Louisiana State Police Superintendent Col. Lamar Davis said in the 12 months of 2021, the state issued 20,000 of the five-year permits; 7,000 lifetime permits; renewed 12,000 permits; denied 1,438 permits; revoked 37; and suspended 255 permits.

Davis added that one reason is that the training required to obtain a permit includes what to do when dealing with law enforcement while carrying a gun. Lack of knowledge about the rules of engagement training could create an adversarial situation that could easily escalate. Civilians are trained that they need to tell officers about their concealed weapons.

Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards last year vetoed similar legislation, Senate Bill 118, that both chambers approved with veto-proof majorities. But when it came to overriding Edwards veto, the Senate couldnt corral enough votes.

Edwards noted that many police officials opposed the measure. He also noted that supporters had argued that they believe they have a constitutional right to carry a concealed weapon without a permit or any training. If true, supporters could have filed a constitutional challenge in court, he said. They have chosen not to do so, and instead have brought this bill to change the law, Edwards wrote in his June 29 veto message.

On a 10-1 vote, the panel also advanced House Bill 43, which would prevent local, parish, state authorities from enforcing federal regulations that could be considered infringements of gun ownership in Louisiana. Sponsor Rep. Larry Frieman, R-Abita Springs, explained that doesnt mean the federal government wouldnt enforce its rules and that the state ban would only be for future federal rules.

The state voters passed a Constitutional amendment in 2012 guaranteeing the right to bear weapons. Frieman said the federal government, particularly under Democratic President Joe Biden, appears to possibly be open to more restrictions for gun ownership. And if that happens this bill would deny funding to local and state entities if they enforce those federal rules.

House Bill 68, by Erath Republican Rep. Blake Miguez, would require the Louisiana State Police to create a two-hour online course to train people how to safely use firearms. Both sides backed the idea of more education for gun owners, though Rep. Joe Marino, No Party-Gretna, had some indigestion over the voluntary nature of the training.

Still, Rep. C. Denise Marcelle, a Baton Rouge Democratic progressive, joined Miguez, the conservative Republican majority leader in the House, in sponsoring the legislation, which advanced without objection.

If Rep. Marcelle and Miguez can work together, we can surely fix all the problems in Louisiana, Miguez said.

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Lawmakers may remove permits, training required for concealed carry in Louisiana; see all Gun Day bills - The Advocate