[PAFOA Alert] URGENT: PENNSYLVANIA ANTI-GUN PACKAGE VOTE ON TUESDAY AM - 11/15/07

[danp]

EMERGENCY ACTION ALERT
Governor Rendell plans to take an unprecedented step and personally attend Tuesday’s PA House Judiciary Committee meeting to attack gun owners and our constitutional freedoms by forcing bad legislation (HB 18, HB 22, and HB 29) out of committee. You need to act now!!!

Please contact members of the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee today and keep it up through Tuesday morning.

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The Pennsylvania House Committee Votes on the anti-rights bills (HB 18, HB 22, and HB 29) are scheduled Tuesday November 20 at 10:00 AM.

This extraordinary Judiciary Committee meeting has been moved to a much larger room: Room 140 Main Capitol.

It appears that the Governator is planning to pack the larger room with those who seek to demonize gun owners. We hope to counter that with pro-RKBA attendants.

It will help if numbers of sportsmen and sportswomen attend - preferably wearing business casual. The media will try to get pictures of people who are dressed inappropriately or who are acting inappropriately in an attempt to portray gun owners as undisciplined.

Guns and knives cannot be carried in the Capitol - it is also a courthouse. The only gun lockers are in the lower rear entrance.

Please avoid inflammatory signs and do not be baited into making inflammatory statements.

Please meet at the steps of the Rotunda no later than 9:30 AM and obtain 2nd Amendment badges from Melody Zullinger, Executive Director of the Federation
of Sportsmen Clubs. And PLEASE comply with all direction from Melody.

We will all be judged based upon how the participants dress and act.

Kim Stolfer
Legislative Committee, Chairman
Allegheny County Sportsmen's League
activist@fyi.net www.acslpa.org

Harry Schneider
Legislative Committee, Chairman
Pennsylvania Sportsmen's Association
psa@pagunlaws.com

At the request of Governor Ed Rendell (D), the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee has tentatively scheduled a meeting for Tuesday, November 20 at 10:00am, to vote on several anti-gun measures. The package of bills include one-gun-a-month, a requirement for individuals to report lost or stolen firearms, and legislation that would overturn Pennsylvania’s current preemption law.

House Bill 18, sponsored by State Representative Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia), would further provide for limitations on the regulation of firearms and ammunition by local municipalities. State preemption regulating firearms was enacted by the legislature to avoid the possibility of thousands of separate firearm laws across the Commonwealth. Without preemption there would be a myriad of local firearms laws making compliance impossible for law abiding gun owners. In addition, this proposed legislation may also be in conflict with Article 1, Section 21 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania which states "The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state shall not be questioned."

House Bill 22, "one-gun-a-month" legislation, sponsored by State Representative John Myers (D-Philadelphia), will prohibit law-abiding citizens from purchasing more than one handgun at a time, and impose a 30-day waiting period between single handgun purchases.

House Bill 29, "Lost or Stolen Firearms” legislation, sponsored by State Representative Jewell Williams (D-Philadelphia), would make it a crime to fail to report the loss or theft of a firearm to police within 24 hours of discovering the firearm missing. This proposal would criminalize victims of crime and is ineffective.

**For more in-depth information on these issues please go to this link – www.acslpa.org

The following organizations are on record as opposing this legislation:

Allegheny County Sportsmen's League (ACSL),
Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs (PFSC),
Pennsylvania Sportsmen's Association (PSA),
National Rifle Association (NRA),
Gun Owners of America (GOA),
Second Amendment Sisters (SAS),
Pennsylvania Rifle and Pistol Association (PR&PA),
Pennsylvania Gun Collectors Association (PGCA)
Lehigh Valley Firearms Coalition,
Philadelphia Federation of Sportsmen's Club,
Pennsylvania Gun Owners Association (PGOA)
Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania (Unified)
National Association of Firearms Retailers (NAFR),
Pennsylvania State Fish & Game Protective Association,
The Pink Pistols
OpenCarry.org
Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association (PAFOA)
National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSA)
Western Pennsylvania 30 Caliber League, Inc
Firearms Owners Against Crime (FOAC) the largest gun owners Political Action Committee (PAC) in Pennsylvania will record any support for any of this legislation, now or in the future, as an anti-gun vote.

It is imperative that you contact the following members of the House Judiciary Committee TODAY through Tuesday to strongly encourage them to OPPOSE this package of anti-gun rights bills! PLEASE focus your efforts on the Committee Leaders and then the ‘Uncommitted Group’ and then the listed ‘Pro-2nd Amendment’ group.

**Representatives listed below are Committee Leadership

State Representative Thomas R. Caltagirone (D-127), Majority Chairman
106 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202127
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2127
(717) 787-3525
Fax: (717) 772-5401
tcaltagi@pahouse.net

State Representative Ron Marsico (R-105), Minority Chairman
218 Ryan Office Building
PO Box 202105
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2105
(717) 783-2014
Fax: (717) 705-2010
rmarsico@pahousegop.com

State Representative Daylin Leach (D-149), Secretary
109A East Wing
PO Box 202149
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2149
(717) 783-9114
Fax: (717) 787-0861
dleach@pahouse.net


**Representatives listed below are Pro 2nd Amendment

State Representative Deberah Kula (D-52)
104A East Wing
PO Box 202052
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2052
(717) 772-1858
Fax: (717) 780-4784
dkula@pahouse.net

State Representative Joseph A. Petrarca (D-55)
220 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202055
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2055
(717) 787-5142
Fax: (717) 705-2014
jpetrarc@pahouse.net

State Representative Jesse White (D-46)
102B East Wing
PO Box 202046
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2046
(717) 783-6437
jwhite@pahouse.net

State Representative Tom C. Creighton (R-37)
400 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202037
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2037
(717) 772-5290
Fax: (717) 783-1904
tcreight@pahousegop.com

State Representative Craig A. Dally (R-138)
211 Ryan Office Building
PO Box 202138
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2138
(717) 783-8573
Fax: (717) 705-1849
cdally@pahousegop.com

State Representative John R. Evans (R-5)
B12 Main Capitol Building
PO Box 202005
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2005
(717) 772-9940
Fax: (717) 772-7099
jevans@pahousegop.com

State Representative Will Gabig (R-199)
410 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202199
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2199
(717) 772-2280
Fax: (717) 705-2012
wgabig@pahousegop.com

State Representative Glen R. Grell (R-87)
404 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202087
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2087
(717) 783-2063
Fax: (717) 772-8418
ggrell@pahousegop.com

State Representative Kate Harper (R-61)
149A East Wing
PO Box 202061
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2061
(717) 787-2801
Fax: (717) 787-2022
kharper@pahousegop.com

State Representative Beverly Mackereth (R-196)
7 East Wing
PO Box 202196
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2196
(717) 783-2655
Fax: (717) 772-9869
bmackere@pahousegop.com

State Representative Todd Rock (R-90)
162A East Wing
PO Box 202090
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2090
(717) 783-5218
Fax: (717) 260-6505
trock@pahousegop.com

State Representative Katie True (R-41)
143A East Wing
PO Box 202041
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2041
(717) 705-7161
Fax: (717) 705-1946
ktrue@pahousegop.com

State Representative Tina Pickett (R-110)
155A East Wing
PO Box 202110
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2110
(717) 783-8238
Fax: (717) 705-1949
tpickett@pahousegop.com


**Representatives listed below are Uncommitted on these issues

State Representative John E. Pallone (D-54)
325 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202054
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2054
(717) 783-1819
Fax: (717) 772-9984
jpallone@pahouse.net

State Representative Don Walko (D-20)
121 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202020
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
(717) 787-5470
Fax: (717) 783-0407
dwalko@pahouse.net

State Representative Sean M. Ramaley (D-16)
323 Main Capitol Building
PO Box 202016
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2016
(717) 787-4444
sramaley@pahouse.net

State Representative Carl W. Mantz (R-187)
53B East Wing
PO Box 202187
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2187
(717) 787-3017
Fax: (717) 772-9869
cmantz@pahousegop.com


**Representatives listed below are dedicated Anti 2nd Amendment Fanatics

State Representative Kathy Manderino (D-194)
125 East Wing
PO Box 202194
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2194
(717) 787-1254
Fax: (717) 780-4770
kmanderi@pahouse.net

State Representative Lisa Bennington (D-21)
6A East Wing
PO Box 202021
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2021
(717) 705-7011
Fax: (717) 780-4761
lbenning@pahouse.net

State Representative Dan Frankel (D-23)
217 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202023
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2023
(717) 705-1875
Fax: (717) 705-2034
dfrankel@pahouse.net

State Representative Harold James (D-186)
317 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202186
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2186
(717) 787-9477
Fax: (717) 787-7517
hjames@pahouse.net

State Representative Greg Vitali (D-16)
103B East Wing
PO Box 202166
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2166
(717) 787-7647
Fax: (717) 705-2089
gvitali@pahouse.net

State Representative Jewell Williams (D-197)
101 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202197
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2197
(717) 772-2004
Fax: (717) 787-2284
jwilliam@pahouse.net

State Representative Bernie O'Neill (R-29)
B13 Main Capitol Building
PO Box 202029
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2029
(717) 705-7170
Fax: (717) 783-3278
boneill@pahousegop.com

State Representative Chelsa Wagner (D-22)
109 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202022
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2022
(717) 783-1582
Fax: (717) 780-4755
cwagner@pahouse.net

State Representative Bryan R. Lentz (D-161)
106B East Wing
PO Box 202161
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2161
(717) 787-8574
Fax: (717) 780-4777
blentz@pahouse.net

[danp]

I can not stress how important it is that every firearm owner contact their legislators and let them know that we will not stand for such legislation. Doing so will take at most 15 minutes of your time, but it will be the most important 15 minutes you can invest in your gun rights. A few hundred or few thousand phone calls from constituents can easily make a legislator think twice about supporting such legislation.

Be polite, be firm, but most importantly make your voice heard!

THE BEST WAY TO CONTACT IS VIA PHONE ON THIS MATTER. EMAILS ARE GREAT BUT PHONE CALLS ARE WHAT WILL GET NOTICED THE MOST IN THIS CASE. DUE TO THE TIMING SNAIL MAIL MAY BE TOO SLOW BUT IT CAN'T HURT ON TOP OF PHONE CALLS.

[Guns4Fun]

Thanks for the update Dan. Emails sent to all of them.

The email addy for

State Representative Harold James (D-186)
317 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202186
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2186
(717) 787-9477
Fax: (717) 787-7517
hjames@pahouse.net

Bounced back as Delivery to the following recipients failed

[Carnes]

Thanks for the update Dan. Emails sent to all of them.

The email addy for

State Representative Harold James (D-186)
317 Irvis Office Building
PO Box 202186
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2186
(717) 787-9477
Fax: (717) 787-7517
hjames@pahouse.net

Bounced back as Delivery to the following recipients failed

Same here. +1

[MikeyMac]

Thanks for the news!! I will do my part.

-MikeyMac

[medicjz]

e-mails sent, thanks for the alert

[WhiteFeather]

Read this again

EMERGENCY ACTION ALERT
Governor Rendell plans to take an unprecedented step and personally attend Tuesday’s PA House Judiciary Committee meeting to attack gun owners and our constitutional freedoms by forcing bad legislation (HB 18, HB 22, and HB 29) out of committee. You need to act now!!!

The Anti-gunners want this REALLY bad, let’s show them they can’t take our constitutional right away without a fight.

Send snail mail, email and phone calls to everyone on that committee.

Thanks Dan for the post, PAFOA support and for PAFOA website.

Here is review of these ANTI-GUN bills from ACSL web site
(read all of them here)

http://acslpa.org/n-legislative/Harr...f%204-2007.htm

HB 18 - Ammunition, limitations on regulation, municipal powers (Amend 18 and 53 Pa.C.S)

INTRODUCED BY D. EVANS, JAMES, MYERS, PARKER, BISHOP, COHEN, CRUZ, CURRY,
FRANKEL, GALLOWAY, JOSEPHS, KIRKLAND, LEACH, M. O'BRIEN, PASHINSKI & ROEBUCK

This is a very bad idea. It will allow a county, a city, a township or municipality the
authority to establish it’s own firearm laws without the requirement of being uniform throughout the state!

In effect your local municipality could regulate the following:

1) Sales of firearms, and additional waiting periods & background checks

2) Possession of firearms or ammunition

3) Gun club firing ranges and the discharging of firearms

4) Hunting

5) Storage of firearms and ammunition

6) It could limit you from possessing, carrying, or “manner of carrying” firearms reasonably around zones surrounding schools, playgrounds, universities, colleges, bars or other places of general public accommodations.

7) It could limit your ownership, possession, transfer, and transportation of so-called assault weapons. See HB 30 for assault weapon definition.

An individual’s constitutional right could be taken away by one simple majority vote on a referendum question!

In short this will open the door for every form of gun control that any anti-gunner could ever think of. Even worse, it could be enacted anywhere in the state. This would be a costly legal nightmare for gun owners in PA, to comply with the possibility of hundreds of local laws, not to mention that the laws can differ depending on which locale you reside in or travel through.



HB 22 - Handgun purchases and sales, limit; Violence Prevention Fund, establishing; municipal regulation of firearms and ammunition (Amend 18 Pa.C.S)

INTRODUCED BY MYERS, D. EVANS, GERBER, JAMES, WILLIAMS, BENNINGTON
BISHOP, COHEN, CRUZ, CURRY, FRANKEL, GALLOWAY, JOSEPHS,
KIRKLAND, LEACH, M. O'BRIEN, PASHINSKI AND ROEBUCK,

This will mandate that no one could buy more than one handgun per month. It will, of course, require a massive database of all gun owners’ personal information to make it operational. This has been tried in other states with no reduction in crime. Again, the taxpayers and gun owners would be burdened with paying for the upkeep of this database registration system. This bill also creates a new anti-gun bureaucracy called the Violence Prevention Fund (another expensive program for us taxpayer to pay). This bill would also affect municipal regulation of firearms and ammunition.



HB 29 – Registry for lost or stolen, failure to report, State Police duties (Amend 18 Pa.C.S.)

INTRODUCED BY WILLIAMS, D. EVANS, GERBER, CALTAGIRONE, JAMES, W. KELLER,
MYERS, WHEATLEY, BISHOP, COHEN, CRUZ, CURRY, FRANKEL, GALLOWAY,
JOSEPHS, KIRKLAND, LEACH, M. O'BRIEN, PASHINSKI AND ROEBUCK

Failure to report lost or stolen firearms to the appropriate local law enforcement official within 24 hours is a summary offense punishable by a fine up to $500. A person intentionally failing to report a loss or theft of a firearm commits a misdemeanor of the third degree. A court, in addition to any penalty prescribed by law, may prohibit you from acquiring a firearm for a period of six months.

Allows PA state police to” legally” create and maintain a database of stolen firearms. It prohibits any law enforcement agency to create, operate or maintain any registry of firearm ownership. However, nothing in this purposed bill forces the state police to destroy the illegal gun owner database that the state police have maintained for many decades. (A database created by diverting money away from crime fighting.)

Note a 3rd degree misdemeanor: up to 1 year in jail & maximum $2,500 fine.

[P89]

Retired state rep. Harry Bowser is my neighbor, I'm going to talk to him tonight.
He knows the game better than any of us, hopefully he will get involved.
He's a gun owner & hunter...this is dear to his heart as well.

I will still do my part as well, phone calls are being made!

How many more years do we have to put up with Rendel's crap...I still can't believe he got re-elected. Philly is his mess, he could have delt with that when he was mayor.

[Atomic Dog]

This is my first time writing to members of the Gov't but the most important time.

Naturally I can write a letter, but does anyone have a canned letter or ideas to give me some inspiration? I just don't really know what is good to include or leave out and could use something to help get me started.


~Brian

[pistols&posies]

Being a female, I find it twice as important to write to them, so that they can see the limits they are trying to impose are victimizing everyone.