NORWICH—A locally grown grass roots organization tasked with educating and defending community members with regard to Second Amendment protection will be hosting its second annual chili dinner fundraiser this Saturday.

The Chenango County Shooters Committee On Political Education (SCOPE) is the Second Amendment defense organization hosting the event to seek support of community, law enforcement and local legislature while continuing its mission of defending the rights of N.Y. State gun owners.

“We will be presenting SCOPE's President, Steven Alstadt, with a check which will go toward the litigation costs regarding the Safe Act,” said Chris Naylor, a spokesperson with the organization. “Legal representative Paloma Capanna will also be there,” said Naylor. “She is an attorney representing several individuals and organizations whose rights have been infringed upon.”

Naylor indicated that the most recent guest speaker of a SCOPE fundraiser was Broome County Undersheriff Fred Akshar, who recently won the candidate seat for New York's 52nd Senate District.

While not confirmed, Nalyor indicated that SCOPE has also extended invitation to Chenango County District Attorney Joe McBride, 101st District Assemblywoman Claudia Tenney, Chenango County Sheriff Ernest Cutting, and Undersheriff Daniel Frair, with whom the organization has had an opportunity to work together with in the past, according to Naylor.

According to Naylor, the organization has hit the ground running since its inception in August of 2014. From holding public rallies, informative “meet-and-greets” and community barbecues to hosting political candidates — going so far as to presenting the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office with $10 gift cards to Gilligan’s Island drive-in for every sworn member of the department as a show of gratitude for their service and support — by all accounts the organization has been shaking hands to gain community approval.