NEW YORK, NY January 26, 2009 —Senator-designate Kirsten Gillibrand is pledging to combat gun violence, while protecting hunters' rights, which she calls "a core value" upstate.

Gillibrand spoke briefly after meeting privately with Governor Paterson, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Charles Schumer yesterday. She promised to "hit the ground running," and on issues on which she differs from fellow Democrats -- such as gun control -- she said "there's enormous space for common ground."