SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A pair of candidates in a hotly contested Congressional race sparred today over their competing policies on background checks and gun laws.
U.S. Rep. Claudia Tenney accused her opponent, Anthony Brindisi, of wanting to take the New York SAFE Act nationwide. Brindisi countered that he has opposed the SAFE Act and his primary concern is installing universal background checks at the federal level -- something he said Tenney opposes.
Brindisi and Tenney met Monday with the editorial board at syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. They butted heads frequently over their ideas for healthcare, tax plans, gun control and their records in Albany and Washington.
Tenney, a Republican first elected to Congress in 2016, said the United States already has universal background checks, thanks to the "Fix NICS" law signed by President Donald Trump last year.
Brindisi, a Democratic State Assemblyman, said the existing laws on background checks don't go far enough and he'd like to see them expanded.
The Fix NICS bill was an amendment to the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. It was signed into law by President Donald Trump last year, after receiving bipartisan support in Congress.
It aims to strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) by requiring all federal agencies to report criminal convictions to the Attorney General's office. Those convictions can then be included in federal background checks.
The law improves the existing background check system, but does not necessarily require a background check for all gun purchases.
Under Fix NICS, background checks are required by any federally licensed gun dealer. Unlicensed sellers -- at trade shows or some private dealers, for example -- can still sell guns in some states without a background check. This is commonly referred to as the gun show loophole.
Fix NICS had bipartisan support in both houses of Congress and received the backing of gun control groups as well as the National Rifle Association.
Brindisi Monday demanded a nationwide background check policy.
"The one thing I'm for which [Tenney] is against is expanded background checks," he said.
"I voted for broader background checks with the NICS Fix," Tenney replied.
Brindisi continued to question Tenney over whether she would support universal background checks. She countered that Brindisi wants to expand New York's gun control policy -- known as the SAFE Act -- nationwide.
"He's supporting the SAFE Act," she said. "He's saying he wants to take the SAFE Act nationwide."
Brindisi voted against passage of the SAFE Act in 2013. That act broadened the definition of assault weapons and put magazine limits on firearms, among other provisions.
Until recently, Brindisi had an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association, mainly due to his SAFE Act vote. He was recently downgraded to an "F."
Tenney maintains an "A" rating from the NRA.
Both have said they oppose an assault weapon ban.
The two also discussed money in politics. The race in the 22nd has again seen a huge infusion of outside cash as Democrats and Republicans in Washington D.C. battle over control of the House of Representatives.
Brindisi said he wants to overturn Citizens United -- a 2010 Supreme Court decision protecting independent political expenditures as free speech -- to get dark money out of politics.
He said Tenney is bought and paid for by special interest groups, which have influenced her votes on things like deregulating the finance industry and repealing Net Neutrality.
Tenney balked at Brindisi's characterization, calling him deceitful and linking his political contributions to powerful Democratic Party interests like George Soros, Nancy Pelosi and Ray Halbritter, CEO of Oneida Nation Enterprises.
Tenney said she supports transparency of money in politics, but would not vote for a Constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United.
"I think the court has spoken on Citizens United.. It's a first amendment right," Tenney said.