Pennsylvania Gun Rights » Contacting Lawmakers

Why We Matter to Politicians

EVC PA-13 — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 18:05:16 +0000

It’s sometimes hard for an activist who has the opportunity to speak with a lawmaker one-on-one to articulate exactly why gun owners deserve their attention among the many interest groups fighting for recognition. I have been asked by both politicians and voters just how many NRA members are active in the Bucks County area, but that’s not a number that is publicly available or that actually matters in the long run.

More than 30 million people believe they are current NRA members.

See, there are a number of factors that reveal why strict NRA membership is a poor measure of pro-gun sentiment. First, there are several groups active at the local, state, and federal level. For many with a limited income, they will often choose the most local organization they can for their membership dollars. Others feel that local or state issues take priority, and may focus their attention on those groups even though NRA is often involved at those levels as well. Second, NRA membership fluctuates between more than 3 million and a little less than 5 million at any given time. As people feel their gun rights are threatened, they tend to step up their involvement. When they get comfortable, they step back from the fight instead of helping us push for more progress on the issue. However, more than 30 million people actually believe they are members of the NRA. This comes from confusion that taking a training course certified by the NRA makes them a member for life or believing that signing up for one year is good for life.

The people who believe they are members of NRA even if their membership is lapsed still look to NRA endorsements and other information from the group about what is happening to their gun rights. They may get it from magazines left at their gun club, email alerts, or updates from their local sportsmen’s club newsletters. They still matter at election time because their votes can be swayed on matters of our Second Amendment rights, yet they would not turn up in a count of strict & current NRA members.

In Pennsylvania, we can use another number to indicate interest in firearms freedom when talking to our local politicians. It’s still far from a perfect number, but it’s relevant nonetheless. We can look to concealed carry licenses issued in each county to give them insight into how many constituents are weighing a politician’s support of our rights. No, the numbers don’t recognize actual gun owners in a county, but they are a representation of gun owners who care about the issues of personal protection and the shooting sports enough to undergo extra background checks and expenses.

No member of Congress wants to risk losing nearly 27,000 votes in his district.

In Bucks County, we can use the data reported to the State Police and add up each of the last five years available to give an approximate number. Right now, it shows that more 26,000 citizens have licenses to carry in the county. When you factor in sportsmen’s firearms permits which are very uncommon, it still adds nearly 1,000 more people to the number.

Even if we know that there are far more gun owners than that in the area, no politician representing the area will want to risk making nearly 27,000 voters upset enough to vote for a primary challenger or challenger from another party. For those challenged by anti-rights candidates, there are still enough votes on the line that they want a record that gives gun owners a bit of extra inspiration to come out to the polls.

For those of you who want to do the calculations for your own county, you can download reports back to 1999 from this site. Remember, the last five years of data is the more up-to-date number.

Sunday Hunting Legislative Efforts

EVC PA-13 — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:00:33 +0000

Now that Castle Doctrine has been signed into law, many gun owners and hunters are taking a closer look at another issue that has been up for debate for years now – opening hunting on Sundays in Pennsylvania. Many states, including Pennsylvania, have repealed nearly all of these blue laws that were originally enacted in order to regulate personal religious or moral behavior. Only a small minority maintain their blue laws against hunting.

Advocates of Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania recently released a report on the predicted economic impact of allowing hunting throughout the entire weekend. Now, the legislature is finally moving forward on the proposal. Representative John Evans introduced HB 1760 that was referred to the chamber’s Game and Fisheries Committee this week.

Representative Marc Gergely also released a statement about hist work on this week’s resolution from the Pennsylvania Game Commission to support Sunday hunting:

“I thank the Game Commission for passing this resolution that I requested,” Gergely said. “Sunday hunting would double the number of days many hunters will have to enjoy their sport, create thousands of jobs and attract young people to hunting and conservation.”

A recent legislative hearing on the issue of Sunday hunting had a high turnout, as seen by these photos posted by Rep. Evans. In addition, he recently conducted an interview on the recent meetings and the broader Sunday hunting topics that you can listen to here. He addresses some of the groups opposed to the legislation, as well as the upcoming plans for the House Game & Fisheries Committee in tackling the legislation.

NRA News recently conducted an interview with Rep. Evans on his effort to recruit more co-sponsors on his Sunday hunting bill. Specifically, host Cam Edwards gets to the root of why sportsmen in Pennsylvania want to see this change.

As of the end of June, here are the representatives who have stepped up to support your right to hunt alongside Rep. Evans:

As the Game & Fisheries Committee continues to hold hearings on the topic, NRA is asking its members to contact their lawmakers to request their support of the bill.

Responses to Castle Doctrine Passage

EVC PA-13 — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:37:47 +0000

Since the Senate passed Castle Doctrine by a 45-5 vote this week, Governor Tom Corbett’s office has reiterated his support of the bill several times. His spokesman told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review that he still plans to sign the legislation. Activists have been asking for his support since he started running for office.

In addition to talking to the mainstream press, Gov. Corbett’s office also took to social media to spread the news with this post on Facebook:

Governor Corbett will soon sign into law the Castle Doctrine legislation that the Senate recently passed.

But anti-gun activists won’t let up. With biting commentary about lawful gun owners who choose to carry concealed firearms, they have taken to his Facebook page to respond. Here are a few of the comments from those looking to restrict our rights:

“Donna Fisher: Why do sane and sensible people have to be endangered by yahoo gun-slingers who let fear rule their lives?”

“Gavin Jensen: Good news for all those who live in the Yosimite-Sam-Dirty-Harry-gun-slinger fantasy world: you don’t have to wait for someone to come into your house before you shoot them. Now it’s legal on your front lawn! Why retreat when you can reload, right?”

“Jason Penopolis DeWitt: Actually I think Gavin has captured the overall direction of the bill. Instead of returning to your home at the first sign of trouble, you simply kill the person causing the trouble and label it “self defense”. Kill first, ask questions never.”

These are all people who clearly have not read the current law or the bill in question. Fortunately, more informed folks have made an effort to set the facts straight in the post, but it reminds us why we must contact even lawmakers who regularly support our rights and thank them for that support. We cannot let those who want to infringe upon our rights be the only voices our lawmakers hear in these debates.

NRA Opposed To Kagan Nomination To U.S. Supreme Court

EVC PA-8 — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 17:06:57 +0000

Joint Statement by Wayne LaPierre, NRA Executive Vice President & CEO, and Chris Cox, Executive Director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action

There may be no vote a United States Senator casts that is more important than a vote to confirm a nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. Now that the Court has clearly stated that the Second Amendment is a fundamental, individual right that applies to all law-abiding Americans, NRA members and gun owners expect a nominee to the Court to fully support, defend and preserve that freedom.

We have carefully examined the career, written documents and public statements of nominee Elena Kagan and have found nothing to indicate any support for the Second Amendment. On the contrary, the facts reveal a nominee who opposes Second Amendment rights and is clearly out of step with mainstream Americans.

Therefore, the NRA is strongly opposed to Kagan’s confirmation to the Court.

In testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, she refused to declare support for the Second Amendment, saying only that the matter was “settled law.”

This was eerily similar to the scripted testimony of Justice Sonia Sotomayor last year, prior to her confirmation to the Court. When pressed on the Second Amendment then, Sotomayor also referred to the issue as “settled law.”

But in the recently decided case of McDonald v. City of Chicago, Sotomayor ignored the “settled law” of the Heller decision and signed a dissenting opinion that declared, “I can find nothing in the Second Amendment’s text, history, or underlying rationale that could warrant characterizing it as ‘fundamental’ insofar as it seeks to protect the keeping and bearing of arms for private self-defense purposes.”

It has become obvious that “settled law” is the scripted code of an anti-gun nominee’s confirmation effort. The NRA is not fooled. No member of the U.S. Senate should be either.

With no judicial record, only Kagan’s political career can be reviewed. And this provides no reason to trust her with Americans’ firearms freedom. Throughout her career, she has repeatedly demonstrated a clear hostility to the fundamental, individual right to keep and bear arms under the U.S. Constitution.

As a clerk for Justice Thurgood Marshall, Kagan said she was “not sympathetic” to a challenge to Washington, DC’s ban on firearms. As a domestic policy advisor in the Clinton White House, a colleague described her as “immersed” in Clinton’s aggressive assaults on the Second Amendment. She was involved in Clinton’s scheme to ban more than 50 types of commonly-owned semiautomatic firearms – an effort described as “…taking the law and bending it as far as we can to capture a whole new class of guns.”

As U.S. Solicitor General, Kagan chose not to file a brief last year in the landmark McDonald case, thus taking the position that incorporating the Second Amendment and applying it to the states was of no interest to the Obama Administration or the federal government.

These are not the positions of a person who supports the Second Amendment and, in fact, represent a clear and present danger to the right to keep and bear arms.

Kagan’s record clearly reveals that she does not believe that the Second Amendment guarantees a fundamental right. In her recent testimony, she refused to acknowledge respect for the God-given right of self-defense.

She should not serve on any court, let alone be confirmed to a lifetime seat on the highest court in the land.

The NRA is strongly opposed to the confirmation of Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court. This vote matters and will be a part of future candidate evaluations.

The above statement was originally published by NRA-ILA.

You can contact Senator Arlen Specter at 202-224-4254 and Senator Bob Casey at 202-224-6324.

Pro-Gun Legislation to Move, but Not Without Tricks

EVC PA-13 — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:25:20 +0000

(cross posted from PAFOA)

Tomorrow, the House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on Castle Doctrine legislation – a move we’ve been waiting on since November 19 when they held a hearing! However, it comes at a price.

In addition to the vote on the important self-defense reforms, the committee is planning to vote on three anti-gun bills on the same day!

Contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee today. Tell them that you want their support on HB40 – the Castle Doctrine bill. This specific Castle Doctrine bill will ensure that law-abiding gun owners can feel safe knowing that they can defend themselves from attackers whether it is inside or outside your home. It also protects citizens from the expense of fighting civil lawsuits filed by criminals or their families when self-defense was justified.

But tell them that they must vote down the three gun control bills:

HB1043 which would create a “Firearm Trafficking Czar” and lead to another bureaucratic agency looking for ways to restrict gun sales in Pennsylvania.
HB1044 that would end preemption and allow cities to create their own gun bans and carry rules, and
HB1045 that would arbitrarily ban certain semi-automatic firearms in the Keystone State.

Self-defense reform should not come with a price that includes gun bans, wasteful spending on a new government-funded anti-gun leader, and gutting our state’s gun laws.

Contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee today. Based on the response to Castle Doctrine in other states, we know that gun control groups will get involved in this fight, making it seem as if we will have gun fights on every street corner. As we know, such dire predictions have yet to come true. Make sure you voice is heard! Call, e-mail, or even tweet – just make sure your voice is heard!

Email the Judiciary Committee in two clicks!

State Candidates Use Social Media to Reach Voters

EVC PA-13 — Tue, 04 May 2010 14:53:06 +0000

You’d think with the smaller campaign budgets of state Senate & House candidates that more of them would use social networking tools to build an army of volunteers and keep voters informed. But alas, only a few in the Southeast corner of the state have taken the opportunity to set up these social media homes. Here are those bold few:

Senate District 24
Bob Mensch

Senate District 6
Bryan Allen

Facebook

House District 31
Rob Ciervo

Steve Santarsiero

Facebook

House District 141
Joe Hogan

Facebook

Kevin Glasson

Facebook

Tina Davis

Facebook

District 141
Frank Farry

Twitter – @frankfarry2010
Facebook

House District 146
Mark Painter

Facebook

House District 147
Marcy Toepel

Facebook

House District 148
Matt Maguire

Facebook

House District 151
Todd Stephens

Twitter – @Stephens4Rep
Facebook

House District 152
Tom Murt

Facebook

House District 153
Tom Bogar

Josh Shapiro

House District 154
Mary Beth Carroll

Twitter – @marybethcarroll
Facebook

House District 169
Dennis O’Brien

Facebook

House District 170
Marc Collazzo

Twitter – @MarcCollazzo

House District 172
Daniel Collins

Facebook

Tim Kearney

Facebook

Kevin Boyle

Twitter – @Boylefor172
Facebook

House District 175
Daryl LaFountain

Twitter – @FriendsofDaryl

Lt. Governor Candidates Looking for Your Votes Online

EVC PA-13 — Mon, 03 May 2010 13:00:07 +0000

With the prevalence of social networking, and the low barrier to entry, it’s no wonder that even the most far-fetched of candidates for the often overlooked office of Lieutenant Governor are using the tools to find votes and raiser their profiles. Here’s where you can find the folks who want to be your next leader on all of the major networking sites:

DEMOCRATS

Scott Conklin

Facebook

Doris Smith-Ribner

Twitter – @smithribner
Facebook

Jonathan Saidel

Twitter – @JonathanSaidel
Facebook

REPUBLICANS

John Kennedy

Steve Johnson

Russ Diamond

Chet Beiler

Billy McCue

Facebook

Jim Cawley

Lawmakers Meet Pro-Gun Activists

EVC PA-13 — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:48:50 +0000

If you haven’t joined the mass of gun owners swarming the Capitol today, you’re missing out on incredible access opportunities with your local lawmakers.

As the EVCs for PA-8 & PA-13, we paired up to hit many of the shared districts around Montgomery & Bucks Counties. Though we did not have time to visit every legislative office in the area, we did have productive meetings with Representatives Frank Farry, Bob Godshall, and Marguerite Quinn. We also had the opportunity to meet with Senator Bob Mensch, and the staff of Senator Chuck McIlhinney.

Live Coverage of the Right to Keep & Bear Arms Rally

EVC PA-13 — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 11:00:21 +0000

This morning, and all through the afternoon, you can find our live coverage of the Right to Keep and Bear Arms Rally in Harrisburg through our Twitter account @PAGunRights.

You can also “like” us on Facebook to get updates right in your stream – we’ll publish photos as soon as we can share them.

If you can’t make it down to the Capitol today, please take a moment to contact your lawmakers and let them know you’re with us in spirit and want to see Castle Doctrine moved through the House and Senate. Remind them that for every one gun owner who could turn out, there are thousands more supporting the rally from home or the office, and we’ll remember their action come November.

Federal GOP Caucus Gets Competitive in New Media

EVC PA-13 — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 16:00:43 +0000

To show how serious they are about social media, the Republican Caucus in the US House of Representatives is getting its game on by asking members to compete for followers and new media savvy recognition.

The only Pennsylvanian to compete in the challenge is NRA A rated Rep. Bill Shuster (PA-9). If you want to help him out – and keep up with his view of what’s happening in DC – then follow him @RepBillShuster.

The competition is a March Madness-style event with each week’s competition being narrowed down to the best performers. They launched on Monday with 56 competitors – most are House members, but a few House committee groups signed on as well. The first week’s round is to drive up Twitter followers. Future competitions will focus on Facebook and YouTube outreach.

Because social media is such a great way to interact with lawmakers and their staff, gun owners are encouraged to join in as followers. You can make sure they see your opinions and get feedback when they vote on issues that matter to you.

Engaging Lawmakers Online

EVC PA-13 — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 14:00:43 +0000

We regularly post the social media homes of candidates and current politicians, and there’s a reason for that tradition. There’s no better example of why it is important to engage with candidates than the experience of our colleague in PA-19.

Jason, the NRA-EVC for York and Adams Counties, with part of Cumberland County, found out about an online townhall conducted by his local lawmaker, Representative Eugene DePasquale. Given that the House Judiciary Committee has refused to hold a vote on the Castle Doctrine bill, HB 40, there are few lawmakers on the record about the issue.

Seeing an opportunity, Jason decided to ask Rep. DePasquale about his support for the legislation in advance of the Right to Keep & Bear Arms Rally in Harrisburg this month. With questions submitted via email before the event and through an online submission form during the time, it was easy for constituents to participate in the event.

New media tools present us with unprecedented access to lawmakers. We can share opinions & know that the legislators or their staff see the responses quickly. Taking a few minutes to follow your elected officials – or those who want to become your elected officials – online can reap you significant rewards in terms of information on the latest happenings and also give you a new, louder voice.

Gubernatorial Candidates on Social Media

EVC PA-13 — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 13:00:41 +0000

If you want to keep up with what all of the candidates for Governor are saying to try and win votes, keep up them on social media outlets. It’s a great way to catch semi-candid comments about issues of the day, and sometimes that includes the Second Amendment.

Republicans
Tom Corbett

Twitter: @CorbettForGov
Facebook

Sam Rohrer

Democrats
Joe Hoeffel

Dan Onorato

Jack Wagner

Anthony Williams

Twitter: @williams4pagov
Facebook

Thank Pro-2A Members of Congress!

EVC PA-13 — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 06:30:59 +0000

Here are a few quick and easy ways to thank the Members of the Pennsylvania delegation who signed on to support our rights in the bipartisan brief in support of the McDonald case before the Supreme Court:

With two clicks & a Twitter account, you can thank one Senator & three Congressmen who supported the Second Amendment.

If you’re on Facebook, leave a short note of thanks on their pages:

Make sure you let them know when they’ve done well!

Castle Doctrine in Pennsylvania

EVC PA-8 — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:10:28 +0000

It looks like the House Judiciary Committee will be considering the castle doctrine legislation next Thursday, the 19th of November. The NRA is asking people to contact the members of the judiciary committee to support the measure.

The actual House Bill is HB40. Look over it, it’s a pretty standard type bill. The major provisions are:

Eliminates the duty to retreat within one’s home, including attached structures like porches, decks and patios. Exception for people who are using their property to further a criminal activity, so if someone is running a grow operation, and shoots someone breaking in to steal some pot, they can’t claim castle doctrine. Also applies to vehicles, including non-motorized vehicles.
Eliminates the duty to retreat on the streets provided you are in fear of grave bodily injury or harm, and provided you are not engaged in criminal activity. Criminal activity is this instance is narrowly defined as to not include things like spitting on the sidewalk. If you’re a drug dealer, you won’t be able to claim castle doctrine if you end up in a gunfight with a rival.
Clarifies the definition of loaded firearm to include magazines being secured in a separate pouch, rather than specifying a separate container, provided the magazine is secure, and the ammunition covered. This means you only need one range bag, provided it has a place to secure the magazines.
Provides for civil immunity for actions that are ruled self-defense. If the perpetrator sues anyway, it’s a loser pays system, so you can recover attorneys fees. There is no civil liability immunity if you accidentally hit a bystander, so this is not absolute.

To there you have it. Contact the representatives below, especially if you live in one of their districts. No doubt there will be a lot of huffing and puffing by politicians, interest groups, and the media about the world will end if this passes. Many of them will never read the bill, or just have an agenda. But I have read it, and will continue to report.

If you aren’t sure who your representative is, please search here. Call, e-mail, tweet, or even leave a note on their Facebook walls – just make sure your voice is heard!

State Rep. Thomas Caltagirone (D-127) – (717) 787-3525 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Deberah Kula (D-52) – (717) 772-1858 or e-mail her here

State Rep. Kathy Manderino (D-194) – (717) 787-1254 or e-mail her here

State Rep. John Pallone (D-54) – (717) 783-1819 or e-mail him here
Find Rep. Pallone on Facebook!

State Rep. Don Walko (D-20) – (717) 787-5470 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Joseph Brennan (D-133) – (717) 772-9902 or e-mail him here

State Rep. James Casorio (D-56) – (717) 783-3483 or e-mail him here
Send @RepCasorio a message on Twitter!

State Rep. Paul Drucker (D-157) – (717) 705-2003 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Bryan Lentz (D-161) – (717) 787-8574 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Joseph Petrarca (D-55) – (717) 787-5142 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Josh Shapiro (D-153) – (717) 783-7619 or e-mail him here
Follow @josh_shapiro on Twitter! Find Rep. Shapiro on Facebook & follow his Facebook group.

State Rep. Greg Vitali (D-166) – (717) 787-7647 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Chelsa Wagner (D-22) – (717) 783-1582 or e-mail her here

State Rep. Ronald Waters (D-191) – (717) 772-9850 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Jesse White (D-46) – (717) 783-6437 or e-mail him here
Follow @jessewhite46 on Twitter and find Rep. White on Facebook!

State Rep. Ron Marsico (R-105) – (717) 783-2014 or e-mail him here
Find Rep. Marsico on Facebook!

State Rep. Mike Vereb (R-150) – (717) 705-7164 or e-mail him here
Follow @RepVereb on Twitter! Also find him on Facebook here and here, and check out his pages here and here.

State Rep. Tom Creighton (R-37) – (717) 772-5290 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Will Gabig (R-199) – (717) 772-2280 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Dick Stevenson (R-8) – (717) 783-6438 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Glen Grell (R-87) – (717) 783-2063 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Kate Harper (R-61) – (717) 787-2801 or e-mail here here
Find Rep. Harper on Facebook!

State Rep. Tim Krieger (R-57) – (717) 260-6146 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Bernie O’Neill (R-29) – (717) 705-7170 or e-mail him here
Find Rep. O’Neill on Facebook or join his group!

State Rep. Todd Rock (R-90) – (717) 783-5218 or e-mail him here

State Rep. Katie True (R-41) – (717) 705-7161 or e-mail her here

NRA Members Force Mayors Out of Anti-Gun Group

EVC PA-13 — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:05:58 +0000

A roar of protest is spreading among Pennsylvania mayors who are rejecting New York City-style gun control and leaving Mayor Bloomberg’s anti-gun group. His Pennsylvania coalition once numbered 103 mayors in the Keystone State, and in a matter of weeks, it has fallen to only 91. With help from gun owners who are willing to pick up the phone to protect their rights, we can reduce that number even more.

One report from a mayor claimed that she was called by nearly a dozen gun owners during her lunch hour on the day NRA notifications reached mailboxes. She quickly called to resign from the group, leading the still-rising wave of resignations of Pennsylvania mayors.

View Bloomberg’s Anti-Gun Mayors in Pennsylvania in a larger map

As you can see, mayors who have recently left the group include:

Akron Mayor John McBeth
Beech Creek Mayor David E. Orr
Bowmanstown Mayor Keith G. Billig
Harmony Mayor Cathryn H. Rape
Mount Penn Mayor Josh Nowotarski
North Irwin Mayor Leonard L. Santimyer
Summit Hill Mayor Paul R. McArdle
Tower City Mayor Dale Deiter
Ulysses Mayor Jane Haskins
West Reading Mayor Shane Keller

Unfortunately, some mayors are making their position against lawful gun owners clear and standing by Mayor Bloomberg’s efforts to restrict concealed carry licenses and sue gun stores out of business. York’s John Brenner says he plans to continue his membership and proudly cites his support for eradication of statewide preemption by passing illegal local gun control ordinances. Sadly, the only NRA members featured in the story said they were not willing to make the phone call to demand their mayor stand up for the Second Amendment.

In addition to Mayor Brenner, these local mayors have refused to resign from the group:

Ambler Mayor Charles T. “Bud” Wahl
Carlisle Mayor Kirk R. Wilson
Doylestown Mayor Libby White
East Berlin Mayor Keith E. Hoffman
Gettysburg Mayor William E. Troxell
Hatboro Mayor Norm Hawkes
Mount Wolf Mayor James F. Kinder
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter
Telford Mayor Jay Stover
Windsor Mayor Larry Markel

Let’s make sure that NRA members, gun owners, and hunters in these towns are willing to pick up the phone or even send an email in defense of their rights.

Since our update last week, NRA-ILA has launched a detailed webpage to keep gun owners updated on the status of mayors in the anti-gun coalition. The site is a tool to compliment the recent postcard mailings sent to gun owners around the country. You can find not only the current list of mayors, but also mayors who have quit the organization, MAIG members who are not actually mayors as advertised, mayors who recently lost elections, and MAIG members who are currently facing charges or have been convicted of various crimes ranging from assault to corruption.

Updates on Bloomberg’s Anti-Gun Mayors

EVC PA-13 — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:00:11 +0000

Since we posted our full research and call to action to reduce the reach of NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s anti-gun initiative in Pennsylvania, we have at least one positive change to the list.

As of September 9, the Mayors Against Illegal Guns website started to feature a few disappearing names in several states. Two of the names removed are Mayor Jane Haskins of Ulysses, Pennsylvania and Mayor Paul McArdle of Summit Hill, Pennsylvania. They both resigned from the group following pressure from local NRA members.

Another Pennsylvania-centric change for the coalition (though not one reflected on Bloomberg’s website) is the death of State College mayor Bill Welch from complications from surgery. We certainly send regrets to family and hate to see the list of mayors reduced through tragedy. We prefer to inform mayors about the importance of the Second Amendment rights of their citizens, leading to a resignation.

As changes are made to the Pennsylvania anti-gun landscape at the local level, we will update the map with mayors who have resigned or left their office.

View Bloomberg’s Anti-Gun Mayors in Pennsylvania in a larger map

In the meantime, if your city is on the map, contact your mayor and ask them to stand up for your rights!

Pennsylvania Politicians on Twitter

EVC PA-13 — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:00:50 +0000

If you took our advice to get involved in social media, then you’ve probably discovered the invaluable tool to track your friends, shooting buddies, and pro-gun resources – Twitter.

Did you realize you can follow many Pennsylvania politicians on Twitter as well? Whether they support your rights or not, you can keep up with what they have to say about the issues. Want to know what sassy comments Sen. Daylin Leach is hurling at those he disagrees with this week? @DaylinLeach is by far one of the most colorful political Twitter accounts online. Or do you want to know what his colleague across the the aisle, Sen. Lloyd Smucker has to say about the goings on in Harrisburg? @SenatorSmucker updates with information on the Senate session times, especially during the contentious budget debates.

Here are the Pennsylvania politicians in and around the Congressional districts we represent who are using Twitter to communicate. (All grades are the last ratings issued. It is likely some ratings will change before the next election based on recent voting records.)

Pennsylvania House Members
Rep. Bob Mensch – @RepMensch & @Mensch4Senate – A
Rep. Denny O’Brien – @RepOBrien – A
Rep. Scott Perry – @RepScottPerry – A
Rep. Eugene DePasquale – @RepDePasquale – B
Rep. Mike Vereb – @RepVereb – B
Rep. Josh Shapiro – @Josh_Shapiro – D
Rep. Mark Cohen* – @RepMarkBCohen – F
Rep. Scott Grove – @RepGrove – unknown

Pennsylvania Senate Members
Sen. Lloyd Smucker – @SenatorSmucker – A
Sen. Daylin Leach – @DaylinLeach – F

Candidates for US Senate, 2010
Pat Toomey – @ToomeyForSenate – A
Sen. Arlen Specter – @SenArlenSpecter – A
Rep. Joe Sestak – @JoeSestak & @Sestak2010 – F
Peg Luksik – @PegLuksik – unknown
Robert Townsend – @VoteCommonSense – unknown

Other Statewide Candidates, 2010
Rep. Jim Gerlach – @GerlachforPA & @JimGerlach – A
Atty. Gen. Tom Corbett – @Tom_Corbett & @CorbettForGov – A
Dan Onorato – @Dan_Onorato – unknown
Tom Knox – @KnoxforGovernor – unknown

If you follow us at @PAGunRights, we’ll periodically participate in the #FollowFriday with themed lists of folks to follow on Twitter. It may be candidates in a specific political race, Pennsylvania politicians debating a major gun rights bill, or NRA activists from around the country.

*Rep. Cohen keeps his updates private, though it is unclear how to get on the approval list. @PAGunRights which strives to cover issues fairly to both parties and all candidates has requested to follow him since we represent his constituents. However, he has so far refused to approved our request, presumably over disagreement on Second Amendment rights.

Anti-Hunting Forces Petition Against Archery Hunt

EVC PA-13 — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:00:21 +0000

Local anti-hunting activists are taking aim at a proposal to expand a deer hunt in Tyler State Park, and the local media has been helping their cause by publishing petitions and anti-hunting resources in their coverage of the issue. Hunting advocates need to make their voices heard in the debate as officials come closer to a final decision.

Tyler State Park is a 1,711-acre park in Newtown Township and Northampton, and the current proposal looks to expand what is now a one day shotgun hunt in order to keep deer populations at more manageable levels. According to reports, regional park managers have said that “biologists, foresters and other experts do frequent checks at Tyler and other state parks and have found that deer are causing extensive plant damage at Tyler, a situation that throws off the ecological balance at the park.” Wildlife professionals believe opening the park to limited archery hunts to supplement the one day of shotgun hunting will help reduce the populations to a level the park can sustain.

As it stands, the proposal would open 400 acres of the park north of Dairy Hill Trail to a maximum of 10 hunters during archery season. Hunting would be allowed from 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset. Officials are also debating whether to open a more limited hunt for only a few days or weeks during archery season.

State parks have long accommodated by hunters and non-hunters recreational users alike. Officials say that archery hunts occur in more than 90% of state parks, including another Bucks County location in Bensalem. Safety has never been a problem at area parks, even when the hunting area is limited to a smaller plot of the park, as is the case in Neshaminy State Park.

At Neshaminy State Park, archery deer hunting has been allowed for the last five years in a 130-acre portion of the 340-acre park. The hunting area is located entirely within Bensalem, said park Manager Josh Swartley.

A maximum of five hunters are allowed into the park every day but Sunday during archery season, he said. Signs are posted, but non-hunters also are allowed into the hunting area, he said.

There have been no hunting accidents at the park, said Swartley, who added he does get complaints from non-hunters who feel they shouldn’t have to see dead deer being taken out of the park.

Since the hunts started five years ago, only 53 deer have been killed at Neshaminy, including only five last year, Swartley said. But it’s been enough to help reduce plant damage, he said.

Hunters can express their support for the proposed archery hunt by calling or writing stat park officials:

Mike Crowley, Tyler State Park Manager
Email: mcrowley@state.pa.us
Phone: (215) 968-2021

Ken Lewis, Asst. Regional Park Manager
Email: kelewis@state.pa.us
Phone: (215) 453-5000

In addition, hunters who have organized online have started their own petition. However, given the head start anti-hunters have on the process, and the fact that the park’s staff have said they have overwhelmingly heard by the region’s anti-hunting forces, it is important that you contact park staff directly.

“Six-Percenters” Take Action

EVC PA-19 — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:23:43 +0000

What’s a “Six-Percenter”?

Eric Shelton of The Handgun Podcast advocated a position that if just 6% of us in the gun community were to regularly contact our legislators and government officials, we could make great strides in the protection of our rights.

He asked his listeners to write, call and email their elected officials. And then to forward the response to him at grrnsixpercentlist@gmail.com

This call really jibed with me, might be in part because I had used the term six-percenter – regardless, I consider myself to be a six-percenter. One who is trying to use every political option, tool and resource to ensure our rights.

I agree with Eric, 6% is a rather pitiful percentage to have active, it should be 100%. But if just 6% took the time to contact their legislators, what a difference it’d make. I’d like to see that difference happen.

Today, I launched the totally UNOFFICIAL “Six Percenter” site…

www.sixpercenters.com

BATFE Reform Bills Need Help from PA Leaders

EVC PA-13 — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:49:06 +0000

Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced S. 941, the “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Reform and Firearms Modernization Act of 2009” in the U.S. Senate in late spring. Representatives Steve King (R-IA) and Zack Space (D-OH) introduced a companion bill—H.R. 2296—in the U.S. House. The bills would roll back unnecessary restrictions, correct errors, and codify longstanding congressional policies in the firearms arena. These bipartisan bills are a vital step to modernize and improve BATFE operations.

Of highest importance, S. 941and H.R. 2296 rewrite the system of administrative penalties for licensed dealers, manufacturers and importers of firearms. Today, for most violations, BATFE can only give a federal firearms license (FFL) holder a warning or revoke the license. S. 941and H.R. 2296 would allow fines or license suspensions for less serious violations, while still allowing license revocation for the kind of serious violations that would block an investigation or put guns in the hands of criminals. This will help prevent the all-too-common situations where BATFE has revoked licenses for insignificant technical violations—such as improper use of abbreviations, or filing records in the wrong order.

The Senate bill currently has 13 sponsors from both sides of the aisle. Unfortunately, neither of Pennsylvania’s Senators have signed on to the reform package. Contact Sen. Bob Casey at 1-866-802-2833 and Sen. Arlen Specter at 202-224-4254 to request their support for this important reform.

The House bill currently has 175 sponsors from both parties, and it includes 11 Pennsylvania Representatives. Residents of Pennsylvania’s 19th district should thank Rep. Todd Platts for his support at 1-877-902-1919. Unfortunately, Representatives Patrick Murphy and Allyson Schwartz have not signed on to support the bill yet. You can contact Rep. Murphy at 202-225-4276 and Rep. Schwartz at 202-225-6111 to suggest they sponsor the bill.