John Mason reports in the Register Star Captain David Bartlet of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Thurs., Mar. 7, declared the opposition of the Sheriff’s Office to most parts of the NY SAFE Act, the gun control regulation that became law Jan. 15. Bartlett spoke at an event organized by the Hudson Valley Americans for Freedom. Bartlett encouraged the Columbia County Board of Supervisors to pass a resolution calling for repeal of the act. According to a poll released by Marist College Thursday, 36 percent of upstate voters surveyed said the NY SAFE Act was about right, while 48 percent said the legislation went too far. Downstate, the approval rate was 41 percent. A separate, Feb. 4 Siena poll found 50 percent of upstate voters supported the law compared to 46 percent who opposed it.The SAFE Act broadened the definition of banned assault weapons and made magazines containing more than seven bullets unlawful. It also increased penalties for illegal gun possession and reduced public access to gun permit information. It also allowed mental health professionals to report concerns about a gun-owning patient harming himself or others. Eleven counties in the 19th Congressional District have either passed or are considering resolutions asking for repeal of the act