Quote:
Originally Posted by Statkowski
If you don’t know by now, the recommendation was voted down 6-1 (I was the “1”). I do believe it was voted down just to get rid of the media circus feeding frenzy.
Even in defeat there is victory. I raised what I thought was a valid issue, my voice was heard statewide (at least), I certainly got people talking, and we even had local residents attending a Borough Council meeting for a change. Mission accomplished.
Of course, once the cameras were turned off our beloved Borough Council President tried to rip me a new one for bringing all this unwanted attention to our small town, but I deflected her blasts with dignity and no emotional response whatsoever. On the bright side, I cannot be kicked off council, and state law makes no provisions for a recall election.
Who knows? Maybe some other small town will attempt the same.
The media circus feeding frenzy was indeed something I don’t think I want to go through again. We had at least three television stations and three newspapers present, plus a few others, and I don't view any of the newspaper articles written as negative - mostly neutral in nature.
I did find it most interesting that our Borough Solicitor had virtually no knowledge whatsoever regarding Pennsylvania’s Uniform Firearms Act.
Thanks for your support. It made the entire roller coaster ride worthwhile.
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I for one am glad you proposed this, and obviously others here agree. I understand why a small town would want to avoid media attention, but if nothing else it got people thinking. That some people, in government no less, didn't know about the PA UFA amazes me, and I'm glad that your proposal gave them an education.
In fact, the last point is very important: if municipal-level elected representatives aren't even aware of the UFA, then they don't even know their firearms prohibition proposals are breaking the law. The best way to fight illegal ordinances is to prevent them from being put on the books in the first place, and the UFA provides us the legal backing.
In any event, good work, Mr. Statkowski. I'd go so far as to continue proposing this ordinance. Now that the media frenzy is over, I doubt they'd come back if at some later date it was proposed again, and others on the board might vote differently if there's no camera in their face.