In Today’s Philadelphia Inquirer:
The House yesterday rejected a measure aimed at curbing illegal handgun trafficking, the first substantive gun restriction considered by the full chamber in more than a decade.
By a vote of 128-75 the House defeated an amendment – attached to a separate gun crime bill – that would have made it mandatory to report lost and stolen handguns.
The amendment won overwhelming support from Philadelphia-area lawmakers, where polls show majority support for the reporting requirement. House Speaker Dennis O’Brien, a Republican, was the only representative from Philadelphia to vote against the measure.
O’Brien said he could not support what he called a “flawed bill” and felt it could have “unintended consequences” for legitimate crime victims, such as felony charges for not reporting multiple missing weapons. “It’s a difficult vote to explain why you’re not for it, but the deficiencies were glaring.”
Hat tip to Speaker O’Brien for knowing a turd when he sees it. I wish more Philadelphia area reps were able to see through the bullshit. It’s going to be the poor who own guns to protect their homes in Philadelphia who are going to be most at risk for being prosecuted under this bill. I’m glad to see Speaker O’Brien realized that.
Gun-control proponents hailed the vote itself as a historic achievement for opening floor debate on gun violence and forcing lawmakers to take a formal position on controversial legislation.
You know you’re in good shape when gun control people are happy just to have a vote, even if that vote meant they lost resoundingly. I agree it’s good to have these reps on record, because now we know who is and who isn’t on our side.
Rep. David Levdansky (D., Allegheny), the amendment’s sponsor and an avid hunter, argued that most sportsmen do not have an issue with reasonable handgun restrictions.
Notice how our opponents these days are always avid hunters? The media seem eager to make sure you know that. I mean, how else are you going to make the people who are against this look no better than kooks?
“We find it disappointing that even the most commonsense crime-control legislation can’t muster a majority in the House at this point,” Rendell spokesman Chuck Ardo said. “But we will continue working with our allies to build support for another day.”
Keep spinning Ed, because we’ll be doing the same thing, and there are more of us than there are of you.
UPDATE: Armed and Safe has more.
Because I have no life, I watched the proceedings last night on PCN. The representatives from Philadelphia, by their lame-brained objections to any “pro-gun” amendments or bills – and their similar endorsements of “anti-gun” amendments and bills – have convinced me that they believe their constituents to be utterly incapable of responsible citizenship…but they dare not admit it. It is very sad to behold.
Thank God for O’Brien and the other NO votes for using their common sense, even in the face of threatened retribution. That Philly rag, “The Inquirer,” contained this %$&#@ editorial yesterday:
Editorial: Lightning Round
Remember their names
House Speaker Dennis O’Brien (R., Phila.) thumbed his nose at his city constituents Tuesday by helping to defeat a measure aimed at stemming the tide of illegal handguns. He was joined in defeating the bill requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen weapons by eight other Republican lawmakers from the suburbs.
There ought to be a political price paid by O’Brien et al for their obstinate resistance to a gun-safety measure supported by police, prosecutors and Gov. Rendell. Voters should contact them, and remember them at the polls on Nov. 4.
Here’s the “no” voters’ dishonor roll: O’Brien, Stephen Barrar (R., Delaware), Paul Clymer (R., Bucks), Gene DiGirolamo (R., Bucks), Robert Godshall (R., Montgomery), Art Hershey (R., Chester), Bob Mensch (R., Montgomery), Scott Petri (R., Bucks), and Thomas J. Quigley (R., Montgomery).
WE need to make sure these guys are on OUR HONOR ROLL!!