It was the third rally to be held in Albany since Governor Andrew Cuomo’s sweeping gun control legislation passed more than a month ago and it was by far the largest. Opponents say they’re pushing for a full repeal of a law that’s become a flash point for gun rights advocates across the country.

“I think New York has become the poster child for how not to adopt legislation,” said National Rifle Association President David Keene. “As we know, the governor designed this in the dark of night, rammed it through the Legislature and then everybody said, ‘Oh my God, what have we passed?’”

But overturning the law in the Legislature is highly unlikely due in part to the large Democratic majority in the Assembly. Republican lawmakers say they’re hoping the courts will overturn the measure.

“It’s an uphill battle,” said Sen. James Seward, whose district includes Remington Arms, the prominent gun manufacturer. “It was 43 to 18 in the state Senate. It’s going to be tough to turn enough votes to go repeal it and I wouldn’t expect the governor to sign such a repeal bill.”

Some state lawmakers and Governor Cuomo have said that chapter amendments or changes to the law will make technical corrections to the measure, but those are yet to materialize even as lawmakers mull exemptions for law enforcement and TV and film productions.

“I want to make sure and I certainly won’t support any wholesale amendments to this bill to change the intent but there probably are some technically amendments that I could support,” said IDC Leader Jeff Klein.

Cuomo was not at the Capitol for the gun rally which State Police estimate drew more than 5,000 people, though organizers say at least 10,000 people came to the event. In New York City, Cuomo acknowledged that gun control remains a passionate issue.

“It’s politically controversial,” Cuomo said at a scrum in Brooklyn. “About seventy percent of the people in this state support gun control. Thirty percent don’t and thirty percent feel very strongly about it. So that’s the nature of the issue.”

Gun-rights advocates hope a court challenge filed recently by the New York Rifle and Pistol Association is their best chance of turning back the gun control law.

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