Firearms Owners Against Crime
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action
Gun rights advocates have their aim focused on the Senate to advance legislation that would free up government restrictions on their right to carry a firearm.
About 50 members of Gun Owners of America gathered on the steps of the state Capitol on Monday for a lobby day to pressure senators to pass three separate bills that are awaiting action in that chamber.
Dr. Val Finnell, the organization’s Pennsylvania director, said despite knowing the bills would likely draw a veto from Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, the push for a vote in the Senate on the three pro-gun bills is necessary to see where each senator stands on these gun rights issues.
“We want to get a recorded vote,” Finnell said. “We want to put everyone on record on where they stand.”
A pro-gun bill that has advanced the farthest in the Senate is Senate Bill 565, which would eliminate the state’s longstanding requirement of the need to obtain a separate permit to carry a concealed firearm.
It also would allow Pennsylvanians’ right to carry a weapon in the 32 other states that have recognized Pennsylvanians’ right to carry or with which a reciprocity agreement exists.
Sen. Cris Dush, R-Jefferson County, who sponsored that so-called “constitutional carry” bill, said citizens have to pass a criminal background check to buy a new firearm and he maintains they are the least likely to commit a criminal act with a firearm.
“It is patently unjust and constitutionally questionable to add layers of bureaucratic regulations on these law-abiding citizens just because they prefer to carry their firearms concealed,” Dush said. “They don’t want to make themselves a target for the bad guy.”
Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland County, said on Monday that bill is under discussion for possible action this fall but has not yet been positioned for a vote.
Another bill the gun owners group wants to see passed is sponsored by Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin County. It would forbid state and local government officials from enforcing any new federal restriction, prohibition or registration requirement on the purchase or ownership of firearms, and firearm accessories, which are currently legal in Pennsylvania.
A third piece of legislation is the House-passed bill, sponsored by Rep. Matt Dowling, R-Fayette County. It would bar local jurisdictions from imposing local firearms and ammunition ordinances, as well as allow anyone who succeeds in a court challenge over a local firearm restriction to be reimbursed their attorney’s fees and the cost of bringing the lawsuit.
“It seems almost silly to me today that we’re talking about here very common sense pieces of legislation that if you’ve read the constitution like I have you wouldn’t even think that they’re necessary but understand that people are trying to strip you of those rights,” Dowling said, of the three bills.
But gun control advocates who oppose all of these bills feel that relaxing gun regulations at this time when gun violence is on the rise is wrongheaded.
Adam Garber, executive director of CeaseFirePA, said the pro-gun lobby day that was smaller than one held in June, which also drew fewer people than previous ones. Garber said it is a “reflection that Pennsylvanians desire their communities to be safer from gun violence and the current efforts in the Legislature have been shown again and again to endanger the lives of people.”
Garber said he believes that the two sides can find common ground that allows people to own firearms while saving lives of community members, which he said, “is the ultimate goal of government.”
Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy.