Long Island Democrat Jim Gaughran introduced legislation Monday that would prohibit gun raffles across the state.

His Republican state Senate colleague Rob Ortt is not happy.

"He's trying to say, ‘We're going to make you safer,’ even though this will do nothing to make anybody safer,” said Ortt, (R) Senate – North Tonawanda.

Ortt says Gaughran is either misinformed or, more likely, trying to take advantage of a public that doesn't realize raffle winners have to go through the same process as anybody buying a gun in New York.

"This is not common sense gun reform. There's nothing common sense about this reform. In fact it lacks total common sense and total understanding by Senator Gaughran,” said Ortt.

"I want to make sure that we’re not glorifying assault type weapons and some of the raffles that we have seen on Long Island include raffling off parts that could be used to assemble a military style weapon,” said Gaughran, (D) Senate – Northport.

A similar Assembly bill proposes an outright ban, but Gaughran's bill does exempt veterans, volunteer firefighters and police.

"I believe that our police departments, our volunteer fire departments, our veterans, these organizations, these public protection organizations, these are responsible people who themselves want to make sure that guns do not get in the hands of the wrong people," said Gaughran.

However, Ortt says the exemptions serve to attack sportsmen's clubs and other groups that promote the Second Amendment.

The Tonawanda Sportsmen's Club for instance says it would not be able to break even without the two raffles it holds each year.

"We had a raffle last Saturday. Not a single person left this building with a gun. They all had to go to the store where the guns were purchased, go through a NICCS check and then received the guns,” said Dave Notaro, Tonawanda Sportsmen's Club president.

Ortt says with legislation in both Houses this year, he's taking things seriously.

"If they view this as an easy or low hanging fruit or they know they have the votes then they may pass this,” said Ortt.

The Republican says he will be circulating a petition at gun shows and raffles in Western New York and delivering it to Gaughran before the start of legislative session.