SB 505 Protecting the Right of Pa to Bear Arms –Senator Eichelberger 2013-2014

[WhiteFeather]

SB 505 Protecting the Right of Pa to Bear Arms –Senator Eichelberger 2013-2014

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/...cosponId=11975

MEMORANDUM

Posted: March 4, 2013 01:05 PM

From: Senator John Eichelberger

To: All Senate members

Subject: Protecting the Right of Pennsylvanians to Bear Arms


Pennsylvania’s protections regarding the right to bear arms pre-date and influenced the federal constitution. In fact, Pennsylvania was the first state to address the right to bear arms in its constitution. By the time the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted in December of 1791, Pennsylvania had already reaffirmed twice the right to bear arms as a fundamental individual freedom.

The first Pennsylvania Constitution containing the protection was drafted in the summer of 1776 and adopted in September 1776. Among its principle authors was Benjamin Franklin. In 1790, when Pennsylvania’s constitution was amended to address various governmental reforms, the protections as to the right to defend oneself were made even stronger, by adding “shall not be questioned.” That language has carried through since that time:

Article I, § 21. Right to bear arms.
The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of
themselves and the State shall not be questioned.

It is a well known canon of judicial construction that a state constitution may not offer less protection of individual rights than the U.S. Constitution does, but it can afford more protection. Many, including myself, believe that Pennsylvania’s constitutional protections are much clearer and stronger than those contained in the federal document.

As such, I will be introducing legislation that will continue to assert Pennsylvania’s right to provide stronger protections of the right to bear arms to its citizens. My legislation would prohibit the use of any state or local resources, including personnel, buildings, and equipment, to enforce any new federal restriction, prohibition or registration requirement on the purchase or ownership of firearms and firearms accessories which are currently legal products in Pennsylvania.

I have reserved a bill number for this legislation and attached a draft of the language for your review.

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI...11975_2596.pdf

[WhiteFeather]

note this is another effort to tell the feds to take a hike, plus other things read bill in OP

several senators have already signed on to SB 505

Batch email of usually very supportive senators to middle of the road
alloway@pasen.gov; dargall@pasen.gov ; lbaker@pasen.gov; brewster@pasenate.com; mbrubaker@pasen.gov; ferlo@pasenate.com; jgordner@pasen.gov; shutchinson@pasen.gov; rkasunic@pasenate.com; cmcilhinney@pasen.gov; bmensch@pasen.gov; jrafferty@pasen.gov; rrobbins@pasen.gov; jscarnati@pasen.gov; lsmucker@pasen.gov; Evogel@pasen.gov; rvulakovich@pasen.gov; kward@pasen.gov; mwaugh@pasen.gov; dwhite@pasen.gov; wozniak@pasenate.com; gyaw@pasen.gov; yudichak@pasenate.com; jschwank@pasenate.com; fontana@pasenate.com;
sgreenleaf@pasen.gov;


senators that range from weak, to so so, to really poor to sometime supportive (when you are watching & contacting them to hold their feet to the fire) to newly elected senators

boscola@pasenate.com; pbrowne@pasen.gov; jcorman@pasen.gov; andy@pasenate.com; eerickson@pasen.gov; dpileggi@pasen.gov; msmith@pasenate.com; rtomlinson@pasen.gov; pvance@pasen.gov; blake@pasenate.com; stack@pasenate.com; swiley@pasenate.com; rteplitz@pasenate.com;

[WhiteFeather]

save for future updates

will delete if not used

[PreserveandProtect]

Sounds like some of the same ideas as HB357, but in the Senate?

If so, we should jump on this one and support it!

Pass one, pass both, merge, whatever it takes to get some protection of our Rights into legislation.

Sounds strange being necessary to pass laws to fend off those who would violate our National and State Bill of Rights, but that's the *game* the anti's and their "Legislative Pawns" (meaning those who don't give a crap about the Constitution) play.

Prepare a solid footing, Hold your ground, then Advance

[pennlineman]

I heard Sen. Eichelberger speak at a rally last month. He's one of the good guys and deserrves our support on this.

[tarzan]

Sent it to them.

[Tripz]

Good guy Senator John Eichelberger.

[vinlander]

Sent this out too, got some good things back from legislators.