Spoke with PA Senator Fontana Today

[alexns]

Last week I emailed Senator Fontana about SENATE BILL No. 435
He called me today for a brief discussion.

**Before you continue, I was told the Philly senator that wrote this bill has gotten 0 calls against!!***

Please continue to call and write your reps it does make a difference!!

Basically he stated that he is a gun owner and supports the second amendment.

However, he has quite a few constituents that expect some action as of the latest gun violence.
He told me directly that he supports stronger background checks. He wants to include checks on mental illness. He also said he does not want people to be disqualified permanently based on medical issues and that there needs to be some fair and realistic way to get rights back if you were previously disqualified.

He also would like to go after straw purchasers with stronger mandatory sentence laws. Thinks this is one of the top issues.. He does understand the issues with how these laws would be worded so as to not criminalize unintended targets. He also stated that many Judges are against mandatory sentences for gun law violations.

His reasoning for co sponsoring this bill was to satisfy his constituents call for action. He does feel that a 10 round ban is OK based on stories surrounding Gabby Gifford and the 9 yr old that was shot with one of the last rounds in an extend magazine (not sure if that is true).

We discussed the slippery slope this will lead to and he agreed that would be an issue. Said that this is low hanging fruit.. Also expressed doubts about this bill passing in its entirety but expects it to at least start a discussion about what they should do in PA. He expects most of the action to take place federally.

Also said he is interested in hearing what we think but is aggravated at times with the NRA communications. Keep Calling!!!

[ALS]

I emailed him and got zero response on this issue but he did throw me onto his Email spam news letter list.

[Kchristy]

Like hell the philly reps haven't heard from me.

[alexns]

That is what the sponsoring senator told Fontana when he asked about support in Philly.

[LBaker]

You got lip service from Fontana and Farnese is a lying sac of shit.

[CenterTree]

Last week I emailed Senator Fontana about SENATE BILL No. 435
He called me today for a brief discussion.....


....Also said he is interested in hearing what we think but is aggravated at times with the NRA communications. Keep Calling!!!

What's does that mean??? ^^

[vinlander]

Farnese has DEFINITELY gotten calls on this issue. But please everybody call this guy anyway, then post it here that you did:

District Office
Phone: 215-952-3121
Fax: 215-952-3155

Harrisburg Office
Phone: 717-787-5662
Fax: 717-787-4531

He has not replied to any emails I sent him, therefore I called, so he got at least one call.

Farnese apparently also misrepresented the bill before it was introduced, according to a co-sponsor who pulled his support for this bill after finding out it was different after introduction.

[bluedog46]

You got lip service from Fontana and Farnese is a lying sac of shit.

You read my mind.

[Pector55]

So if background checks seem to move forward, can we work that to our advantage? What if the counter is to demand that such a bill include a provision which forbids any centralized database (complete or incomplete) and that no firearm can be seized for the sole purpose of running it against such a database.

That is my biggest concern about the entire "universal background check" nonsense.

Also, when discussing these things with representatives, ask what is being proposed to keep violent criminals from being released.

[wallyone]

He also stated that many Judges are against mandatory sentences for gun law violations.
Why? would they have to do something?
His reasoning for co sponsoring this bill was to satisfy his constituents call for action. He does feel that a 10 round ban is OK based on stories surrounding Gabby Gifford and the 9 yr old that was shot with one of the last rounds in an extend magazine (not sure if that is true).
I could be wrong but I thought that his extended 30 round mag. jammed. The little girl was the last one hit before he was stopped by the jam.
Anyway, would it have been O.K. if she would have been hit with the last round from the 3rd. 10 round mag?
It is truly sad and tragic that this little girl lost her life because of the actions of a sick person, but that was what it was the actions of a sick indvigal, not the type or cappacty of the insterment used.