When George Pataki ran for governor in 1994 he had positioned himself as a Conservative Republican. If there’s anything that we’ve learned in the 12 years of his reign it’s that he has been anything but. Taxes, expenditures, and debt all increased significantly while he was in control. In a similar anti-Conservative bent, gun control laws became far too powerful while Pataki flexed his Big Government muscles. As matter of fact, he may have been the worst New York governor in terms of gun rights.

Under Pataki’s watch the legislature had tried and succeeded in making certain methods of possession illegal. Pistol permit fees grew and the handgun ownership age was pushed to 21. He introduced intrusive background checks that more or less defined gun shows as criminal enterprises. Two years ago Pataki proposed legislation (that was subsequently denied) that would have taken away the lifetime pistol license and required renewal every five years. He capped-off this gubernatorial anti-gun crusade two weeks ago, signing legislation that strengthened the penalization for possessing loaded firearms that he and his anti-gun ilk deem "illegal".

These and various other laws are making gun ownership nearly impossible in the Empire State. Such actions are an affront to what American liberty stands for. The natural right to protect ourselves was called out in the Constitution of the United States as "the right of the people to keep and bear arms." Under the framing of this very same Constitution powers were allotted to each of the states to on their own create and enforce legislation that would affect governance within their borders. The caveat to this designation was that the states could not infringe upon any of the natural rights and rules of government (amendments) called-out in the Constitution. Therefore, the gun laws spawned by the Pataki administration are philosophically and legally unconstitutional.

Fortunately, Pataki’s reign is coming to an end. But, unfortunately, this does not mean that good times are ahead for the classic interpretation of the Constitution and human rights. Even though they may find some delight as Pataki rides off into the sunset, gun owners, Constitutional fundamentalists, and average citizens will be no better off with his successor. They may actually be much worse off for, if anything, Governor-elect Eliot Spitzer makes Pataki’s anti-gun stance look almost pedestrian.

This mindset was perfectly exemplified back in 2000 when, as attorney-general, Spitzer spearheaded efforts that made New York State the first state to sue gun manufacturers, importers and wholesalers under the illogical and twisted assumption those companies contributed to danger and crime. The only thing that saved these law-abiding vendors – and their law-abiding customers - from ruin was a 2005 federal law that shielded manufacturers from such lawsuits and cited the need for personal responsibility and liability in regards to gun crimes and offenses.

Upon getting derailed in this deviant effort, Spitzer vowed that the fight was not over. Such a threat does not bode well for the future of gun rights in New York. It has become more and more difficult to acquire a gun in New York over the years and this trend looks to continue in even greater earnest under Spitzer. With such a mentality in play - and completely empowered by the voters and the legislature - one could legitimately fear that it may actually become difficult for New Yorkers to keep their firearms. Our very rights are under fire and New York’s passive population just rolls with the punches and accepts the bad deals that are brought upon us.

This desecration of the US Constitution is a sad commentary on where New York State is going. It’s an even sadder commentary on what our great nation may one day become.