ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo is hoping an effort to end an insurance policy run by the National Rifle Association will damage its finances — and he is urging other states to follow.
Cuomo in recent days has ramped up his criticism of the NRA after it filed legal papers to try to overturn the state's decision earlier this year to end the NRA's insurance program called, "Carry Guard."
New York contended the program is illegal because it gave liability protection to gun owners for acts where there was "intentional wrongdoing."
In an effort to overturn the state's ruling, the NRA filed an amended complaint last month arguing it could face financial problems or even go broke if the insurance program, a revenue raiser for the group, is not restored.
"If the NRA is unable to collect donations from its members, safeguard the assets endowed to it, apply its funds to cover media buys and other expenses integral to its political speech, and obtain basic corporate insurance coverage, it will be unable to exist as a not-for-profit or pursue its advocacy mission," the NRA's complaint states.
But Cuomo said he has no sympathy for the NRA's plight, and on Monday wrote a letter to others governors encouraging them to drop the NRA's "Carry Guard" program.
On Friday, New York filed a motion to dismiss the NRA lawsuit.
"Look, they are selling illegal product in New York. This 'Carry Guard' insurance policy is illegal," Cuomo told reporters Friday. "And they were advertising it and they were getting a commission."
Cuomo, a Democrat seeking re-election this year and a prospective 2020 presidential candidate, has long fought with the NRA, particularly after the state passed a strong gun-control law in 2013 in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., school shootings.
"They don’t control me, they never will and they have a problem with that," Cuomo continued.
"I’m tired of hearing politicians say, once a week after there’s another shooting, on almost a weekly basis. I’m tired of politicians saying, we’ll remember them in our thoughts and prayers.
"If the NRA goes away, I’ll remember the NRA in my thoughts and prayers – how about that?"
Cuomo is also leading a petition drive and media campaign to endorse states to follow New York's lead on blocking the NRA's insurance program.
"I urge you to examine your laws and determine whether or not this product is being illegally sold in your state, and I encourage you to follow New York's lead and block the sale of these NRA products if they are illegal, or to outlaw these products if they are not already prohibited," Cuomo wrote to the governors Monday.