Pennsylvania – Page 78 – Shall Not Be Questioned

Six More Weeks

I wouldn’t be a good Pennsylvania blogger if I didn’t cover Phil’s prediction from Punxsutawney:

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! Here Ye!

On Gobbler’s Knob on this fabulous Groundhog Day, February 2nd, 2008 Punxsutawney Phil, the Seer of Seers, Prognosticator of all Prognosticators,
Rose to the call of President Bill Cooper and greeted his handlers, Ben Hughes and John Griffiths.

After casting a weather eye toward thousands of his faithful followers, Phil consulted with President Cooper and directed him to the appropriate scroll, which proclaimed:

“As I look around me, a bright sky I see, and a shadow beside me. Six more weeks of winter it will be!”

You have to love any place called “Gobbler’s Knob”. This is most decidedly Pennsylvania at its weirdest. There’s video you can click on. See for yourself. It’s surprising PETA doesn’t show up at this thing. The movie Groundhog Day really isn’t really that far off.

How Deep Does the Rot Run?

This is certainly interesting:

When Hillary Clinton attacked Barack Obama for his ties to a Chicago real estate developer who is facing trial on federal corruption charges, the spotlight revealed far-ranging political connections, including one with Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, a strong Clinton backer.

Antoin “Tony” Rezko gave $15,000 to the Democratic National Committee in 2000, when Rendell was chairman. Although there is no known direct contribution to Rendell from Rezko, Rendell received a $1,000 campaign contribution in 2005 from Ali D. Ata, a former Illinois official and co-defendant in the case against Rezko.

I think it’s a generally good policy for politicians not to take money from anyone connected with Chicago politics.Â That city oozes more than any other in the country, with the possible exception of New Orleans.

This is How You Protest Government

They get an A for creativity and style:

A Pennsylvania couple angry at the noise from airliners flying overhead has expressed their anger by painting an obscene message on the roof of their home.The two-metre-tall sign is directed at the Federal Aviation Administration, which recently altered the plane routes around Philadelphia International Airport.

I grew up in the town next door.Â Folsom is where my high school was.Â Noise from air traffic was always there, but it must be pretty bad now with the new traffic patterns, particularly since UPS likes to fly out fully loaded 747s in the middle of the night.

Pennsylvania Open Carry Blog

Activists have been taking up the issue of open carry here in The Keystone State.Â Now there’s a blog dedicated to it by a fellow Bucks County resident.Â I’ve never been big on open carry personally, but I’ve seen what activists in Virginia have been able to accomplish, and it’s defied my expectations.Â Â It’s not as uncommon in Virginia as it used to be, and “the law” is pretty much aware that it’s legal now.Â I’ve only ever seen open carry in Pennsylvania twice, once on a bus in Harrisburg, and once on the Appalachian Trail.

The Rendell Economy

Pennsylvania is third in the nation when it comes layoffs.Â Ed Rendell came into office with a promise to turn Pennsylvania around.Â What stellar results eh?Â Raising taxes and tolling our highways is generally not an effective way to promote economic growth.Â Nor is increasing regulations on businesses.

The Lion Slipper Murderer

Allentown police caught this guy, who is charged with two counts ofÂ murder:

Torres was driving on Turner Street Friday afternoon when he was pulled over by police and arrested. He was wearing a hooded sweartshirt with a skull-head pattern on it, pajama bottoms and fuzzy lion-faced slippers at the time. He was still wearing the get-up when he was arraigned after midnight at Lehigh County prison.

Follow the link for the picture.Â I’m going to be, probably not the first to say, that this whole wearing pajamas in public fashion has now officially gone way too far.

AR-15 Controversey in Duncannon

Man, I’m glad I’m not a cop in this town.Â Apparently the fact that the police department purchased two AR-15 rifles is quite the controversy.Â Officers should really have a decent carbine in their patrol cars in addition to shotguns, and the AR-15 is a fine platform for law enforcement use.

Gay Marriage is Contagious

Sen. Mike Brubaker is trying to get a marriage amendment onto the Pennsylvania Constitution:

Tom Shaheen, vice president for policy at the Pennsylvania Family Institute, said it’s important to protect marriage in the state’s Constitution â€” especially considering its proximity to Massachusetts, the only state to allow homosexual “marriage.”

Apparently Tom Shaheen thinks gay marriage is a strange disease we might catch by hanging out near Massachusetts. Are these people for real?

Rendell Endorsement

Rendell has endorsed Hillary Clinton for 2008.Â Â Sorry about the all election coverage.Â Not much going on in the blogosphere gun wise.Â If you have news you think ought to be covered, drop me an e-mail.

More Carry Nonsense in Pennsylvania

Here we go again:

[I asked the] Sheriff why was my license to Cary denied? He stated someone came in two days before I applied on 11/16/07 and asked If I had a license to Cary. he said he looked in the computer and told them no there is no one in here by that name. He said he asked this person why he said this person told him he observed me with a gun in my waist band on my property. I said Yes Sheriff I do Cary my gun in a holster on my property and not in my waist band. I also stated that its not against the law To OC In PA he agreed. I then asked why was my permit being denied. He then said “I called the Clifford police as part of my investigation and they said yes they had a report of me walking around with my side arm. never once has the police been to my house never once have I been in trouble with the law! I said this is why you denied me he said yes he said it shows lack of character and thats the grounds hes denying me on. I told him I was going to appeal he then said I guess I was right in denying you then You are arguing with me. I said I’m stating facts and laws I’m not arguing with you and mean no disrespect. He said stay out of trouble and reapply in a year until then get yourself some pepper spray. WTF

I am so mad what can I do?

My advice is to retain an attorney and appeal the denial. Meanwhile, I’m going to continue to advocate for altering or abolishing Â§ 6109 (e) (1) (i) “An individual whose character and reputation is such that the individual would be likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety.” so that this discretion clause, that more than a few Sheriffs appear to not be able to use without abusing, doesn’t stop law abiding gun owners from getting licenses.

Besides, if you’re a sheriff, and you don’t like open carry, shouldn’t you want to give the guy a license to he can carry concealed.