Rendell: Gun Control In PA 'A Lost Cause'

[Devrbd]

It's the gun lobby's fault. [/sarcasm]

Rendell calls bid to curb guns in Pennsylvania 'a lost cause'

By Amy Worden

Inquirer Harrisburg Bureau
HARRISBURG - For eight years, Gov. Rendell has lobbied hard in the halls of the Capitol for what he calls "commonsense" handgun laws.

He wanted to limit sales to individuals to one handgun a month. He wanted owners to report lost or stolen weapons. He wanted to close a loophole in state law that he believes lets criminals use gun permits obtained in other states.

At each turn, the legislature - including some of his allies in the Democratic-controlled House - knocked down the proposals like so many slow-moving clay birds on a skeet-shooting range.

On Monday, Rendell defended his weekend veto of a bill expanding gun owners' self-defense rights - but declared his efforts to reduce gun violence through legislation "an abject failure."

"It's a lost cause in Pennsylvania," Rendell said in a conference call with reporters. He accused the General Assembly of kowtowing to the National Rifle Association.

"The legislature proved consistently in my eight years that they are scared to death to buck the NRA," he said. "It's incredibly frustrating, the hold the NRA has over the legislature. It's embarrassing."

The lame-duck governor spoke even as his Republican successor, Tom Corbett, was signaling he would sign the bill Rendell had just vetoed.

Rendell's remarks about the NRA drew a swift rejoinder from the office of Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi (R., Delaware). "I don't agree with the governor's conclusion," said Pileggi's spokesman, Erik Arneson. He said that NRA members have a right to air their views on legislation, and that lawmakers consider those views just as they do those of other interest groups.

Pileggi, who represents the crime-plagued city of Chester, broke with Republicans - and some Democrats - to support closing the so-called Florida loophole, though the measure failed in a final vote last month.

Unlike some lobbying groups, the NRA wields its power less through campaign donations and more with an energized membership that looks to the group for its endorsements - and non-endorsements - and its annual "report card" on whether legislators voted for gun owners' rights.

Rep. Kate Harper (R., Montgomery) in 2007 offered a rare glimpse into some lawmakers' concerns about the NRA. After voting for a one-handgun-a-month proposal in a House committee, Harper said she feared the gun lobby and its supporters would exact revenge at the polls.

"To the single-issue voters, this is an antigun vote," Harper said at the time. "I am afraid this will come back to bite me next election season." Harper was reelected; the one-gun-a-month proposal never made it out of committee.

Rendell on Saturday used his veto power to turn back efforts by gun-rights proponents to expand the use of deadly force in self-defense.

He said he supported the so-called castle doctrine as it applied to one's home, but opposed the bill's provisions expanding the doctrine to include vehicles, businesses, and "out to the street," where he said it could imperil innocent people.

"We shouldn't have a shoot-first mentality," Rendell said.

He said he might have considered signing the bill if it had closed the Florida loophole. Rendell and some law enforcement officials have argued that Pennsylvania's reciprocity with states such as Florida has allowed individuals denied permits here to use permits obtained more easily elsewhere.

He conceded the bill likely would move swiftly through the legislature when lawmakers returned in January.

Rendell predicted an easier time for gun-rights activists in the next session, when both the House and Senate will be under Republican control and a more sympathetic governor, Corbett, will be in office.

For all intents and purposes, it is too late for the legislature to reconvene and attempt to override Rendell's veto. But supporters of the castle-doctrine bill say they will push anew for its passage next year.

"I have full confidence we'll pass it next year with a bipartisan overwhelming vote, and Gov. Tom Corbett will sign it," said Rep. Seth Grove (R., York). "You are giving power back to the citizens to defend themselves."

Corbett would sign the castle-doctrine bill in its current form, said his spokesman, Kevin Harley - who added that Corbett opposed all the other gun-control measures advocated by Rendell.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local...st_cause_.html

[acosenza2]

A lost cause?! I am ALWAYS in control of my gun

[streaker69]

Why is it whenever I see or read anything about Rendell I feel like I need to take a shower.

[P7hk9]

Good! I want that jerk-off Rendell and his freedom-hating cronies to know they are fighting a lost cause.

[d90king]

^^^^ Because he is a dirty, disgusting, lying sack of flaming pooh...

[30Glock]

Thank you, I needed some good news today, I do believe this will fly through and get passed this time around. Really good news today.

[billamj]

I'm glad to know that he feels like we've ruined part of his agenda. Makes me feel warm all over.

[Connal]

Here is one part I like:

Harper said she feared the gun lobby and its supporters would exact revenge at the polls.

You are afraid voters will vote with their beliefs in mind? Really? Shocking.

What it comes down to, is all these years of Rendell not acomplishing taking people's rights away, and now he knows it. After all these years does it really surprise him at all? Did he not notice when all these anti gun laws game up, and were shot down quickly?

"After six months of banging my head against the wall, I only managed to give myself a concussion."

I knew he wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer. But if all this is dawning on him now, he hasn't been paying attention at all.

[John-Pa]

We will see the return of Rendell.

Expect a Federal appointment. He was a very strong supporter of Obama.

His next act will probably be in a Federal capacity involved with crime and you guessed it....guns.

[Legionnaire]

The "hold the NRA has over the legislature?" How about the citizens of the Commonwealth? Good riddance.