The Philadelphia case challenging statewide preemption is being appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. It should be noted that The Court is being asked to turn over a decade old ruling, which confirms well established law. This is merely an appeal, The Court might choose not to hear it, leaving the lower court ruling stand.
Category: Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh Bucking Preemption Now Too
Looks like Pittsburgh is the latest city to jump on the “Lost and Stolen” bandwagon. And all this with zero proof it does anything to limit the supply of guns to the black market.
How Not to Earn an Endorsement
Of the entire Bucks County delegation of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, I have only two endorsed candidates: Paul Clymer of District 145 and Gene DiGirolamo of District 18. Scott Petri of District 178 is a B+ rated candidate, and we can see what issues he’s weak on:
Petri, who has been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, said he wants a Pennsylvania State Police-maintained database and an enforceable, constitutional provision that requires people to report lost or stolen handguns. He said he will introduce legislation that would make straw purchasing a second-degree felony, carrying a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. He also wants any gun dealer who sells a weapon to a straw purchaser to lose his or her license forever.
The third party opponent seems to be pretty good on guns, and Petri does not carry an endorsement. Nonetheless, I would say he’s the lesser of the two evils for people who the gun issue is important to. It’s not a good idea to tell gun voters that your vote against a gun control provision is because it did not go far enough, and you’d be happy to vote for one that did. Also, while I agree with prosecuting straw purchasers, how is the dealer to know that the person he is selling to is a straw purchaser? The whole idea of the strawman is to put someone forward who will appear to not be a criminal, and who will pass the mandated background check. The moral culpability for the crime lies with the straw purchaser, who unlawfully buys the firearm, then unlawfully passes it to someone with a criminal record. Dealers do not have ESP. They can’t read people’s minds. If a dealer knowingly makes an illegal sale, that’s already a crime, both under state and federal law. They don’t just risk losing their license, they risk going to prison.
This is how politicians lose NRA endorsements, and why Scott Petri isn’t getting any of my volunteers this election. I appreciate he’s a B+, and his opponent is likely worse, but he needs to talk to some gun people in the area, and get an idea for how to speak about our issue in a way that gets tough with criminals, but signals to us that you understand our concerns, and will respect our rights. Petri is failing at that this election.
It’s Really Gun Control!
How do you get political cover for signing what is really a pro-gun bill? Claim it’s actually a gun control bill. Fortunatly the press is willing to go along.
Pennsylvania GOP Files for Injunction Against ACORN
The state GOP is saying:
The state Republican Party filed an injunction Friday against Secretary of the Commonwealth Pedro Cortes and ACORN, alleging a fair vote on Nov. 4 is impossible because of rampant voter fraud.
We’ll see where this goes.
Context Again
People are coming absolutely unhinged over this Meleanie Hain situation:
“Come on, a 5-year-old’s soccer game?” she said. “I mean, really. But if she was in my club and I told her she cannot carry, I would be sued.”
Gregg-Bolognese said some clubs have approached her about hiring security guards. Some fathers have threatened to take a gun away from anyone who arrives at a game with one, an idea she tries to squelch. Referees have asked if they should carry guns.
What I see here is a bunch of people who really don’t understand why someone would carry a firearm to a kids soccer game, and are coming up with unrealistic and hysterical thoughts for why someone might want to do this openly. Keep in mind that this league has had problems with overzelous parents. Those of us in the issue understand the context of open carry, so we know Hain is no threat to anyone. Most other people do not, which is why, once again, context matters.
You might have a right to carry a firearm openly at a kids soccer game (the sheriff was wrong for revoking her permit) but we’re raising awareness of the issue of carrying firearms in the media in a way the public is going to have a tough time understanding. Parents who get scared and hysterical at the thought of someone carrying openly at a kids’ soccer game do not have a right to be free from fear. But they do have a right to vote, speak to the media, and petition the government. Pooh pooh their fear all you want, but scared parents are dangerous politically, and thin ice is being tread on here.
Hat tip to Arms and the Law
Ed Rendell Does Something Right
You won’t often see NRA touting something Ed Rendell does, but he signed HB 1845 into law today. State park carry in Pennsylvania is now law, among other things. Previously in Pennsylvania DCNR regulations prohibited guns in parks, much like they prohibit alcohol. If you were caught with a concealed firearm in a state park, they could write you a citation and eject you from the park. Now the only off limits places in Pennsylvania are court houses, and possibly schools (schools are a legal gray area).
Pulling The Wool Over Your Eyes
The AFL-CIO is doing a massive direct mailing to members to help cover up Obama’s atriocious record on gun control. They cite Obama’s endorsement by AHSA as proof that he supports our second amendment rights. One wonders whether they’ll tell their members about Obama’s endorsement by the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Ownership. If the AFL-CIO would only expend this much energy on keeping anti-gun Democrats off their tickets, they might not find themselves in this situation where they have to lie to their members.
John Lott’s Op-Ed in the Inky
John Lott points out Obama’s real record on guns. I actually worry in the Philadelphia media market, that could help more than hurt. We need to get that message into Northeastern Pennsylvania, and out west.
Hearing Tomorrow
Meleanie Hain will have her hearing tomorrow to appeal her revocation of her License to Carry by the Lebanon County Sheriff. My previous comments on the matter a few weeks ago don’t affect my desire to see Ms. Hain prevail in her case. Whether or not it’s the best public relations strategy I think is debatable, but the law is not, and she should get her LTC reinstated.