Still, Gillibrand’s pro-gun positions have aroused opposition in a state where most Democrats, and many Republicans, favor stringent gun control measures. She earned the NRA’s top rating last year and backed a repeal of Washington D.C.’s hand gun ban—even submitting an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in support of pro-gun groups.
“She would not be my choice and I talked to the governor about it two weeks ago,” McCarthy told Politico last night. “This morning I basically started getting calls saying he was going to choose her and I had to speak out, even at the risk of alienating the governor. I do not believe New York should have a senator who has these positions… I just came through the 15th anniversary of when my husband was killed and I my son was maimed from the shooting.”
Several anti-gun groups, including New Yorkers Against Gun Violence, spent Thursday calling Paterson’s office to urge him to pick someone else.
