August 27th, 2007
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Silver Supporters
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location:
uɹǝʇsǝɥʇnos,
Pennsylvania
(Delaware County)
Age: 51
Posts: 3,223
Rep Power: 716
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Rohrer Endorses Pro-2nd Amendment, Pro-Sportsmen Solutions to PICS outage
Quote:
Rohrer Endorses Pro-Second Amendment, Pro-Sportsmen Solutions to Reduce Fallout from State Police Background Check Shutdown
House Republican Game and Fisheries Committee Chairman Sam Rohrer (R-Berks) offered several pro-Second Amendment, pro-sportsmen solutions today to remedy both the Constitutional and economic impact of the upcoming Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) shutdown for computer software upgrades.
Operated and maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police, PICS provides Computerized Criminal History Record Information (CCHRI) for background checks involving not only firearm purchases, but also for public education employees such as teachers and school bus drivers.
“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."
The state police have scheduled the shutdown of the PICS system, which allows retailers to conduct instant background checks of potential gun purchases. During the shutdown, gun purchases in Pennsylvania will be temporarily suspended from 6 pm Sunday, Sept. 2, until noon on Thursday, Sept. 6. Unfortunately, the PICS shutdown directly coincides with the opening of dove and Canada goose hunting season in Pennsylvania, as well as with Labor Day, which is traditionally one of the busiest times for gun purchases throughout the state.
“Based on the inescapably poor timing of this decision and the governor’s extremely vocal support for ‘One Gun a Month' waiting periods, banning certain legal firearms and ammunition, and many other ineffective gun control measures, I am also not surprised that many law-abiding citizens remain very suspicious and angered at these further restrictions on their second amendment right to purchase a firearm," said Rohrer. “Fortunately, there are already several viable solutions that exist to proactively reduce the fallout of future PICS shutdowns—not the least of which involves enacting House Bill 1029 to eliminate redundant background checks for any Pennsylvania citizens who can produce a valid right to carry permit."
Supported by Rohrer and more than 30 other co-sponsors, House Bill 1029 would exempt individuals with a valid Pennsylvania right to carry permit from the cumbersome, expensive and redundant requirement of additional PICS checks each time they purchase a gun. According to Rohrer, not only do these repetitive background checks infringe upon personal freedom, but take away valuable time and resources from law enforcement agencies.
“It’s no secret to anyone that uses PICS on a regular basis that the system often experiences overloads which impede legal firearm transactions, especially during periods of high volume sales just prior to hunting season and Christmas," said Rohrer. “These frequent interruptions of legitimate commerce have already had a negative and lasting effect on many retailers throughout our state. In short, gun owners who abide by the laws and are responsible with their firearms should not be penalized with the loss of their Second Amendment rights for any amount of time or reason, especially if they already have been legally cleared to possess and carry a firearm."
Other more immediate and non-legislative remedies supported by Rohrer, Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Against Crime, Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and many other sportsmen’s groups across the Commonwealth include:
Petitioning State Attorney General Tom Corbett to request that the federal Bureau of Alcohol and Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) designate Pennsylvania as a Permanent Brady Alternative state. Similar to the legislative objective behind House Bill 1029, 19 other states have obtained Permanent Brady Alternative status to exempt anyone who already possesses a valid right to carry permit from the background check process. The state police would still be informed of any non-background check connected purchases through paper invoices.
Allowing firearm dealers to use other available background check options such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s national instant check system any time the PICS system is non-operational.
Performing PICS maintenance during nighttime hours when gun shops are closed, as is the current practice with the FBI’s instant check system.
Postponing the upcoming PICS upgrade until after the conclusion of Pennsylvania’s 2007-08 deer season.
At minimum, providing more ample notice of future PICS shutdowns to Pennsylvania firearm dealers.
For nearly 216 years, the fundamental right to keep and bear arms has served America well as one of the foundations of our nation and our freedom," concluded Rohrer. “Regardless of individual positions about gun control, it is the unquestionable, Constitutional obligation as lawmakers to ensure that our laws, legal system, and even our modern background check technology do nothing to infringe upon the rights of law-abiding gun owners."
Rep. Samuel Rohrer
128th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
(610) 775-5130
(717) 787-8550
www.SamRohrer.com
Contact: Ty McCauslin
House Republican Public Relations
(717) 772-9979
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Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. REST IN PEACE MELEANIE .
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