Why, Pennsylvania of course.
Hat tip to Gun Law News.
Category: Pennsylvania
LCB Reforms
Shocking news.  The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has discovered that operating more like a business than a government agency leads to more profits and increased sales! Who knew?  I also like this development:
The PLCB is also pushing to allow convenience stores to be licensed to sell takeout beer.
Last week, the state Supreme Court announced it would consider whether a Sheetz convenience store in Altoona may sell beer to go without also allowing its customers to drink on premises, as was required by an earlier Commonwealth Court opinion.
The case is considered a test as to whether convenience stores statewide will be able to begin selling beer to go.
It would be nice to be able to buy beer in convenience stores, or license beer takeout places.  Our laws in this regard have been antiquated and need to change. But look who’s protesting?
Such a move would give the agency more license revenue, but it is being opposed by beer industry representatives, who say it would be unfair competition to beer distributors.
So to the beer industry in Pennsylvania, any competition is “unfair”. What a crock. These guys make me happy I brew my own beer.
Who Gets Screwed in the PICS Outage?
Rumors of a gun sale moratorium within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are greatly overstated. Sales out of the back of shady looking vans on the streets of Philadelphia will be in no way interrupted by the PICS outage. For a little extra money, the intrepid gentlemen who ply this trade will sell you one “without any bodies on it.” Isn’t that nice of them?  Buy two guns, and maybe they’ll throw in the serial number obliteration for free! Rumors are abound that many of these gentlemen will accept crack in lieu of cash. Sales are expected to be brisk.
Rendell Pulls the Trigger
Two pieces of news: PICS is going down as scheduled, and Ed Rendell is a worm. Well, OK, one piece of news. Everyone already knew Rendell was a worm.
When these instant check systems were passed in legislation, we were ensured that they would never be used as a back door registration scheme, and we were assured they would stay up and running. As we all know, they have been used as a backdoor registration scheme, and now, we have this.
As I’ve said, there’s no earthly reason I can think of why this multi-day outage is necessary. I’ve seen a lot of large database and systems upgrades, but I’ve never seen anyone that’s required this kind of outage. Everyone needs to make sure to punish Rendell’s party in the next election.
Putting it Off
It looks like the PICS outage could end up being delayed. Of course, I’d still like to understand why there needs to be a multi-day outage at all. There’s no reason, other than sheer incompetence, why this should require several days.
Sam Rohrer on the PICS Outage
I agree with Rep. Rohrer on this part here:
“As House Republican Game and Fisheries Committee Chairman, I have yet to see any convincing reason for Pennsylvania gun owners and hunters to preclude the logical conclusion that this procedure is anything other than poorly planned, routine maintenance as reluctantly acknowledged by both the Rendell administration and the state police,” said Rohrer. “However, I am deeply concerned about the potential and irrevocable damage that this short-notice, PICS shutdown will have on reputable firearm dealers, especially family-owned gun shops, during one of the single busiest retail seasons of the year.”
I agree with his assessment that this was never a conspiracy to screw gun owners on the part of Rendell. I would be surprised, in fact, if his office even knew about it until the complaints starting rolling in. I am no fan of our Governor, but I’m not prepared to blame him for instigating this in order to stick it to Pennsylvania Sportsmen.
Read the whole release. I continue to wish that Rep. Rohrer represented my district. Pretty clearly he is a friend of Pennsylvania gun owners.
Favorite Things Pennsylvania
Tyler Cowen has his list. I would have to add Tastykakes, particularly Butterscotch and Jelly Krimpets. Not the Lemon or Creme filled Krimpets though; those are an abomination in the eyes of god.  It’s a great way to get your morning dose of yummy, Mayor Bloomberg approved trans-fat!
More Robberies Gone Sour
If I keep hearing about robberies like this happening in Pennsylvania, I’m going to have to reconsider my belief that it’s generally best to let these kinds of thing go down, be a good witness, and call the police, as long as the Robbers proceed according to getting the money and getting out.
The robbers seem to be violating that unsaid agreement, which means if someone comes into a convenience store with a gun drawn and declares a robbery, the proper course of action should be swift and well aimed fire.
Hat Tip to Zendo Deb
I Guess He’s Alive
Apparently Senator Casey and Senator Specter are taking separate positions on I-80 tolls in Pennsylvania. I think Center Daily is on drugs, because their positions sound the same to me:
But U.S. Sens. Arlen Specter and Robert Casey, in separate Ag Progress Days news conferences, took divergent stances.
Casey said he supports the position of Rendell, who signed Act 44, the state transportation funding bill, into law. The law calls for up to 10 tolling stations along the 311 miles of I-80, to be planned and managed by the state Turnpike Commission.
Of the Peterson amendment, Casey said: “I don’t think that’s a good idea — we need all the revenue we can get. … I don’t think it (the amendment) will carry the day in the Senate.”
Specter took a hands-off position, saying 511 of the 535 U.S. House and Senate members are from other states and alluding to a proper balance of federal and state authority.
“I-80 tolling has to be decided by the state government,” Specter said. “This is a Pennsylvania issue. You don’t want all the decisions coming out of Washington, D.C.”
The real news here is that Senator Casey is, in fact, alive, and speaking to the media. Seriously, I barely even know that Bob Casey exists, and I have a lot of Pennsylvania political issues and federal issues Google alerted. Arlen Specter may be a nut, but at least I know he’s there.
I’m not one to want my Senators to do anything for me really. But I at least like to know they are alive and have opinions.
Here We Go With the Trans Fats
Get ready for a state wide trans-fat ban to rear its ugly head. Hopefully by the time this crap gets serious legs, we’ll be rid of Fast Eddie.
UPDATE:
I just thought, that Tastycakes, which are a Philadelphia icon, contain a fair amount of trans-fat. There are many of us that have our lines in the sand. You can have my Tastycakes when you pry them from my cold dead, butterscotch covered hands!