New Guns Laws and a Rally

[Outdoor Talk Network by Jim Slinsky]
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New Guns Laws and a Rally ©

By Jim Slinsky
03/22/08

Unless you have been in Patagonia chasing big rainbows for the past month, you should know the meaning of the Second Amendment was just argued before the US Supreme Court. Preliminary speculation by the homeboys says our freedoms did well with five of the eight justices sounding like they are going to rule in favor of the individual interpretation. Anytime one goes to court it is the equivalent of rolling the dice. In view of a truckload of supporting documentation, one must ask themselves what are the other three justices thinking? I guess we will need to wait to find out what the meaning of the word is----is. Interestingly, the man who started this case rolling, Mr. Robert Levy, the multi-millionaire scholar from the Cato Institute was a guest on my radio show.

In any event on the home front there is no shortage of new gun laws popping up faster than this spring’s new bass lures. There are some good ones and some bad ones. Most new gun laws get tied up in the Judiciary Committees and have a tough time getting to either floor for debate. This is because new gun laws are always controversial and because PA legislators are in general, solidly in favor of protecting your freedoms. I qualify that by saying, generally.

HB 1845 passed out of Committee, but quickly developed into a hanger. It increases penalties for possession of a firearm with an altered serial number. Since it sounds like a no-brainer, pro and anti-gun legislators are hanging their pet legislation on it in the hope that their legislation will pass.

House Bill 641 sponsored by SR Stephen Cappelli and often referred to as the “Castle Doctrine” is long overdue. It has been kicked around for a year. Basically, it eliminates an honest citizen’s duty to retreat when confronted by violent criminals. It provides legal protection should your assailant or his relatives sue you for harming the criminal when you defended yourself. It contains an anti-carjacking provision so that if a criminal forcibly enters an occupied vehicle, the presumption is he intends to harm the passengers.

House Bill 1029 by SR Richard R. Stevenson is another good one. This one permits law enforcement and citizens licensed to carry concealed firearms to avoid redundant background checks via the PA Instant Check every time they purchase a firearm. It will help relieve pressure on the strained PA Instant Check system, as well. Let us not forget your “right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”.

SR David Levdansky has offered an amendment which is opposed by every gun rights group. This one requires mandatory reporting of lost or stolen firearms within 72 hours or you are in deep trouble. Additionally, it requires our gun dealers to practically explain our gun laws to their customers or be in violation of the law, themselves. Once again, this legislation is shifting responsibilities to our dealers with the possibility of forcing them out of business for non-compliance.

HB 2228 by anti-gun Philadelphia legislators is a real laugher. Now they are calling for encoded ammunition legislation commonly called “bullet serialization”. In this scenario every bullet manufactured would have a serial number stamped on the projectile with a matching serial number on the case. A new statewide database would be established and every bullet sold and every buyer would be entered into the database. This one has been studied by experts and declared unworkable for solving crimes.

Apparently, in these remaining years of the Rendell Administration gun owners and firearms will be subjected to a steady diet of new laws. It is unfortunate that a small minority of anti-gun legislators can’t seem to accept Pennsylvanians don’t want more gun laws; they want to maintain their freedom. It is equally unfortunate that these same legislators could not direct their time and effort toward legislation that would indeed help the Commonwealth and our citizens.

There is a major gun rally and gun owner lobbying workshop scheduled in Harrisburg in the Capital at 9 AM on April 7. It is a chance to show your support for freedom. The anti-gun “Ceasefire PA” people working against your rights are lobbying in Harrisburg everyday. Can you spare one day to protect your rights?

I hope I see you there.

Jim Slinsky is the host and producer of the “Outdoor Talk Network”, a nationally syndicated, outdoor-talk radio program. For a station near you or to contact Jim, visit his website at www.outdoortalknetwork.com.

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