The PA House has
passed HB 1717 and is presently awaiting action by the Senate as SB792. The Senate will consider it when it
reconvenes in September. The bill is
supposed to address domestic violence, but is really 67 pages of new gun
control laws. It also increases the fee
for carry permits. It is vital that you call and write your state senator (you can use the pre-written
letter at the end of this article) and tell them to oppose this bill in its
entirety. You can find your
senator’s name and contact information at
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/find.cfm
A copy of the bill
is at
http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2005/0/HB1717P2174.HTM
While this bill has
a many problems, the biggest is the added requirements for obtaining a
concealed carry permit. Apparently there
are some leaders of sportsmen’s groups (I will not call them gun rights groups)
who will do anything for carry permit reciprocity – even put restrictions on
our right to self defense. This
legislation requires pictures on the permit and sets up a hot line so that a
few more states will recognize our PA permit.
Next it will be mandatory training classes, proficiency tests, etc.,
etc., etc. We should all be pushing for
Vermont carry, not adding restrictions on our rights. This legislation infringes on the rights of ALL Pennsylvanians so
that a few can carry a concealed firearm while in Nebraska.
You must call and
write you STATE Senator and Representative and tell them to oppose this
legislation. At the very least, they must
strip the carry permit provisions from the bill.
You must also
contact the following groups – they all hand a hand in writing this legislation
and have agreed not to oppose it. This
gives the politicians political cover.
NRA
Call the NRA-ILA Grassroots Hotline at 800-392-8683 and ask for John Howenwater
the NRA Liaison. Tell him that you
expect the NRA to oppose this bill. If
you can not get him (very unlikely, as he has not returned any of my calls) ask
for Dave, the PA rep.
PA Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs
Call Melody at (717) 232-3480 (be nice – she seems like a very nice
person and she has already heard an earful from me).
http://www.pfsc.org/contact.html
PA Sportsmen’s Association
Contact Harry Schneider at psa@nauticom.net
Allegheny County Sportsmen’s League
Call Mr. Kim Stolfer, Chairman of the ACSL Legislative Committee, at
(412) 221-3346.
Firearm Owner’s Against Crime
Call (412)889-9591
When you contact
these groups, tell them that you are disappointed that they are supporting gun
control and that you expect them to oppose this bill and that you will not accept additional restrictions on carry permits
just to obtain reciprocity with a few states.
The following email
further explains the ramifications of this bill.
From: Andy Barniskis <adbco@netaxs.com>
Date: 01 Jul 2005 09:55:18 -0700
To: andyslist@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [andyslist] HB1717: Calling out the inkwell militia
PA Friends:
It is apparent the "regulars" in the gun rights war have sold us out by supporting HB 1717, that is being labeled a "Protection from Abuse" bill for public relations purposes, but which really is 67 pages of new gun control law.
Consider this -- for most of you, it is probable that no one apprised you of ALL the content of this bill, before I sent all 67 pages to you last night. The legislation still needs to go to the Senate for passage. There is still a chance for we "irregulars" to raise enough hell to do some good. Following is a copy of a letter we just sent to the state senators from our county. I am not suggesting it as model for yours, but only as a demonstration of the spirit we intend to communicate. Unlike the people who preferred that you be in the dark regarding what they were doing "for" you, I encourage you to review the legislation and communicate your own sentiments and concerns. If you need another text copy, please let me know.
PLEASE FORWARD AND CROSS-POST TO APPROPRIATE LISTS AND INDIVIDUALS!
Andy
P.S.: My apologies to non-PA residents, but I am sending these to my biggest list to make sure I don't miss ANY potential participant. And, you may learn something useful for when the next Hang'em High bandwagon rolls into YOUR state.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Bucks County Sportsmen's Coalition (affiliated with Keystone Firearms Coalition and Gun Owners of America)
Post Office Box 331
Southampton, Pennsylvania 18966 July 1, 2005
Senator Joseph Conti
Senate of Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Dear Senator Conti:
We have recently become aware of the passage of HB1717, a bill touted as "Protection from Abuse" legislation, but at 67 pages, containing a considerable amount of additional gun control.
We expect you to resist that legislation in its entirety in the Senate.
We are advised that the bill has the support of "gun rights advocates" in Pennsylvania. We don't know who they are, but please be advised that no organization speaks on our behalf. We will do everything within our power within Bucks County to count support for this bill as an anti-gun vote.
We are aware by the circumstances of the passage of HB1717 in the House of Representatives, that whatever "negotiations" were allegedly conducted with self-styled "gun rights advocates" were carried on in secret. There is a network of communication within the gun rights community in Pennsylvania, yet it appears no aspect of the bill was put forth for consideration by that community. Meanwhile, the legislation carries the fingerprints of a number of gun rights activists with narrow special interests within the broader field of gun rights. Please be advised that we do not share their limited, parochial interests.
It is our position that there is nothing to be negotiated with regard to this bill, and that we expect your efforts to bring about its total defeat.
Sincerely,
Andrew E. Barniskis, Legislative Chairman
Offices at 2222 Trenton Road, Levittown, Pennsylvania 19056
------------------------Prewritten letter to your state senator-------------------------------------
As a gun owner I am opposed to the so-called “Protection from Abuse” (PFA) legislation that recently passed the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as HB1717, and is presently awaiting action by the Senate as SB792. My reasons are:
I find nothing at all redeeming in the legislation and request that you do everything within your means to prevent its passage in the Senate.
Please let me know what you intend to do to resist this unjust legislation.
Sincerely,