Mark's Law Still Faces Uphill BattleMark's Law has passed the state Senate unanimously twice. It's named for Cape Vincent Emergency Medical Technician Mark Davis, who was killed in the line of duty in 2009. The law requires life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the murder of a first responder. But Assembly member Addie Russell says the bill is facing early opposition in the Assembly. "One that has come up recently is a concern over this bill being hijacked for other political purposes," Russell said. It's been suggested that there is some concern over emergency responders getting the same treatment under the law as police officers. Sen. Patty Ritchie has said resistance from downstate lawmakers to the tough penalties in Mark's Law may be part of the problem. "The fact that the bill's passed twice in the Senate unanimously - bipartisan, upstate, downstate - I really can't understand what the issue would be in the Assembly," Ritchie said. Russell says she's continuing to push Mark's Law in hopes it will come before the Assembly before the end of the legislative session. "You know, we pass a lot of bills in the last days of session so I continue to be very strong in my advocacy of this piece of legislation," Russell said. The last day of the legislative session is scheduled for Thursday. |
Monday, May 20, 2013
, Watertown, NY
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