HUDSON, N.Y. — Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka has dropped a misdemeanor charge lodged against a Dutchess County man under the state’s controversial new gun control law.
Czajka said he exercised his “prosecutorial discretion” in deciding not to pursue the case against 31-year-old Gregory Dean for violating the state’s Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Act.
“Simply put, I considered all the circumstances, and after reviewing the file and talking to the state trooper, decided to exercise my prosecutorial discretion and declined to prosecute,” Czajka said.
About 9:45 p.m. on May 12, Dean, of Hopewell Junction, was stopped by state police on state Route 22 in the Columbia County town of New Lebanon for having an inadequate license plate lamp.
According to authorities, while the trooper was interviewing Dean, he saw a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson semi-automatic handgun, partially covered by a sweatshirt, on the front passenger seat.
Dean had a license to carry the weapon, but the loaded magazine contained nine rounds of ammunition. The number of rounds of ammunition allowed in a handgun is limited to seven under the new state law.
Columbia County DA Paul Czajka declines to prosecute NY SAFE Act violation – DailyFreeman.com
h/t to Blade
