Santarsiero moves for state House vote on gun bill

[theo]

This Low Life needs to be removed from office.


http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.c...4812c30ce.html


By James Boyle, staff writer

A Pennsylvania legislator and 8th District congressional candidate used a self-described "extraordinary measure" to force action on a gun safety bill stuck in the Judiciary Committee.

State Rep. Steve Santarsiero, D-31, of Lower Makefield, announced he had the signatures necessary for a discharge resolution on House Bill 1770, which he wants pulled from committee and put up for a House vote in three days.

Nicknamed the No Fly, No Buy bill, HB 1770 would prohibit people on the federal terrorist watch list or no-fly list from purchasing a gun. It is similar to a federal bill presented to the U.S. Senate for a vote Monday night. Santarsiero first introduced the bill in January, when it was referred to the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee.

“A discharge resolution is an extraordinary measure that should only be used when a committee is not fulfilling its responsibility to consider important legislation. That is certainly the case here,” Santarsiero said Monday. “This idea of prohibiting people on the terror watch list from purchasing a firearm is a reasonable measure that we should adopt to protect citizens from the acts of extremists."

But the discharge resolution doesn't guarantee a vote. The Judiciary Committee could decide to amend the bill, which would keep it in committee, or they could move the bill to another committee, avoiding a vote.

House Bill 1770 is one of two gun-control bills authored by Santarsiero sitting in the Judiciary Committee. The other legislation, House Bill 1010, calls for universal background checks on all firearms sales. Santarsiero said he picked the No Fly, No Buy bill based on growing support of the federal bill in the wake of the Orlando nightclub shooting.

"These keep happening over and over, and there comes a point that people decide something must happen," said Santarsiero on Monday. "It's not enough anymore to have candlelight vigils and memorials. They are important to help families heal, but they don't make communities safer."

Santarsiero collected signatures from 28 Democrats last week, meeting the 25 needed to bring the discharge resolution before the House Monday. He is hopeful the bill will survive a floor vote, and says he has allies in the Senate who would help get the bill passed.

Joshua Prince, a Berks County attorney who specializes in gun owners' rights, says it is unlikely the bill would pass a Republican-controlled state House of Representatives, much less the GOP-led Senate. Regardless of the bill's chances for survival, Prince says such measures that use the federal no-fly list have major due process problems.

"The bill does not have any mechanism for someone to challenge his or her placement on a no-fly list," said Prince. "They don't provide the underlying evidence to justify putting a person on the list when it is challenged."

Prince questioned the effectiveness of the no-fly list, recalling the 2004 case when the late Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy discovered he was on the list and stopped by security at several airports. He also criticized lawmakers for going after gun ownership in the aftermath of a terrorist attack.

"Why not have a bill restricting social media usage or First Amendment rights?" Prince said. "The Orlando attacker actively promoted his activities on the internet and encouraged others to do the same. These bills are knee-jerk reactions to what is an issue of terrorism. We need to get real and acknowledge the true threat."

In his race to represent the 8th District, Santarsiero has been criticized for not having any of his authored bills signed into Pennsylvania law. Mailers created by a PAC in support of his Democratic opponent, Shaughnessy Naughton, hammered Santarsiero's record before the April 26 primary election in which Santarsiero garnered nearly 60 percent of the vote.

The National Republican Campaign Committee continued the criticism, posting several critical articles on its election blog.

Santarsiero denied using the discharge petition as a way to silence his critics, saying there is no guarantee that the bill will pass.

"This is not an easy procedure," said Santarsiero. "There are a number of maneuvers that can be used to make the resolution moot. They could add an amendment, or just transfer it to another committee. I'm hoping there is enough public attention to get us a clean vote that could prevail over the political risk."

James Boyle: 215-345-3066; email: jjboyle@calkins.com; Twitter: @jamesboylejr

[john9001]

If he really wanted to work against mass killings he would put forth a bill banning gun free zones, almost all mass shootings took place in gun free zones.

[schr8er2000]

Only problem is that there are still PRIVATE business's that can restrict firearms in their establishment.... Dont know if that was the case with PULSE but think that Florida bans them from locations that serves alcohol.... so its a mute point in a lot of places...

[Qtrborecrazy]

How does STUPID plan on getting the No Fly list from the Feds?

[GeneCC]

How does STUPID plan on getting the No Fly list from the Feds?

The "No Fly List" is secret, so how would you know if it came from the Federal Government or just got slapped together by some nameless bureaucrat Harrisburg?

Say, Marcus Brown, Gov. Wolf's defeated candidate for State Police Commissioner. I read that he got a job with some State agency in charge of "emergencies".

Time to heat up the phones again....

[jim-analog]

Greetings,

PA HB1770 is actually MUCH worse than Toomeys' amendment that lost yesterday. That amendment was flawed on many points, but at least made some superficial move toward a watered down due process, the ability to engage consul, notification, etc. 1170 has not even a mention of ANY protections and is yet more "star chamber" secret inside BS. BTW, it makes it a 3rd degree felony to not know you're on a secret list and try to purchase a gun! Orwell couldn't have wrote it more convincingly.

So, let's all start burning up phone lines and email boxes to stop this to keep it from getting out of committee, let alone to a floor vote.

Also................please keep in mind that Rep Santasereio will be facing Mike Fitzpatricks' brother Brian (no big 2A support from either of them) this November for the PA 8th district US House seat. Another choice between a known (very) bad Rep vs a probable bad Rep in good guy clothing. Far as I know, B. Fitzpatrick has yet to come out and show ANY support for the 2A, due process, the Constitution or any of those old and no longer relevant ideals.

Regards, Jim

[HKusp 45]

The "No Fly List" is secret, so how would you know if it came from the Federal Government or just got slapped together by some nameless bureaucrat Harrisburg?

Say, Marcus Brown, Gov. Wolf's defeated candidate for State Police Commissioner. I read that he got a job with some State agency in charge of "emergencies".

Time to heat up the phones again....

NO shit and to top that off people can get stuck on the no fly list for several other reasons aside from being "suspected" terrorists. There are so many reasons see below. So if you were stuck on the list for no good reason such as a clerical error you would be denied your right for no reason what so ever, oh shit wait was that the common sense they wanted (probably not)

1. Being linked to terrorism activity
2. Drug use
3. Travelling frequently to the wrong country
4. Error on the form
5. Having a similar name as someone on the list
6. As a crime
7. Controversial tweeting
also this apparently according to a separate article.
8 Something you said (go fucking figure)

Here's the link with the specifics with explanations

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/tr...-fly-list.html

[streaker69]

NO shit and to top that off people can get stuck on the no fly list for several other reasons aside from being "suspected" terrorists. There are so many reasons see below. So if you were stuck on the list for no good reason such as a clerical error you would be denied your right for no reason what so ever, oh shit wait was that the common sense they wanted (probably not)

1. Being linked to terrorism activity
2. Drug use
3. Travelling frequently to the wrong country
4. Error on the form
5. Having a similar name as someone on the list
6. As a crime
7. Controversial tweeting
also this apparently according to a separate article.
8 Something you said (go fucking figure)

Here's the link with the specifics with explanations

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/tr...-fly-list.html

There were a couple of stories a while ago about people being put on them because they pissed off a TSA agent.

[philadelphia patriot]

I'm sure my state rep would vote against this

Ughhh, hopefully only a few more months living in Philly...

[donstrom]

NRA-ILA has a communication addressing this effort here:

https://www.nraila.org/articles/2016...st-legislation

Click on the 'take action' button, fill out your name and address, and it will direct pre-written letters to your representatives. I added my own thoughts to the text.

I agree Santarsiero needs to find another occupation, his 'swear to uphold the constitution'-fu is non-existent.