By Jill Colvin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — Gov. David Paterson said the mayor's suggestion that he get himself “a cowboy hat and a shotgun” to prevent Native Americans from selling untaxed cigarettes was "inappropriate" given the tenseness of a state crackdown on reservations.
"The state police tell us over and over again there could be violence and death as a result of some of the measures we're taking," Paterson said during a radio interview.
"So I really feel that, in this case, the mayor's remarks were inappropriate."
The state is cracking down on the sale of untaxed cigarettes from Indian reservation. While Native Americans are permitted to purchase and sell tax-free cigarettes for their own use on reservations, they are not permitted to sell them outside.
Native American groups have demanded that the mayor apologize for the comments, which they have painted as racist and a promotion of violence against their tribes.
Paterson appeared to agree on Thursday.
"I just have to say this, I love the mayor, but this is a very dangerous situation," he said.