Post by josh on Dec 15, 2007 9:07:20 GMT -5
AFTER ACTION REPORT HB 18, HB 22, HB 29
by Harry Schneider, PSA Legislative Chairman
> Pennsylvania Sportsmen's Association
>
> and
>
> Kim Stolfer, ACSL Legislative Chairman
> Allegheny County Sportsmen's League
>
> Harrisburg, November 20, 2007
>
> Governor Rendell appeared before the Pennsylvania House Judiciary
Committee
> to testify in favor of HB 18, HB 22, HB 29.
>
> Sitting beside the governor was his State police commissioner. Unlike
real
> police officers, commissioners serve at the pleasure of the governor just
as
> chiefs of police serve at the pleasure of mayors and city councils.
> Commissioner Miller and the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association have
> previously demonstrated a callous disregard for competitive target
shooters
> and American soldiers by supporting a ban on the very AR-15 H-BAR target
> rifles and CAR-15 type carbines that are used in competition and in
training
> prior to deployment to supplement the inadequate training that is provided
> by the Army. The troopers and officers who serve the public under such
> leadership deserve our deepest sympathies, respect and support.
>
> Governor Rendell gave an emotional speech in support of HB 18, HB 22 and
HB
> 29, once again ignoring the real causes and solutions to violent crime and
> falsely claiming that gun control is the answer - just as mainstream
doctors
> once prescribed bleeding as the answer to almost every ailment.
>
> Governor Rendell and Chairman Caltagirone would not have scheduled HB 18,
HB
> 22, HB 29 for a vote if they didn't think that their dog and pony show
would
> prevail. They were wrong.
>
> THE VOTES
>
> HB 18 was defeated 10-19
> HB 22 was defeated 12-17
> HB 29 was tabled 12-17
>
> HB 29 was tabled so that a very minor amendment can be added before
another
> vote is taken. Even with the proposed amendment, it will be very bad and
> dangerous legislation.
>
> Another bad bill, HB 1744 was previously rushed out of Judiciary committee
> because the NRA tweaked it and then withdrew its objections. The prime
> sponsor of HB 1744 is Judiciary Chairman Caltagirone who voted for HB 18,
HB
> 22, HB 29. HB 1744 was scheduled for a floor vote last Wednesday, but
was
> temporarily derailed because of an analysis drafted by the ACSL and PSA
that
> detailed numerous serious problems previously overlooked by the NRA.
These
> flaws were discussed in Appropriations Committee and on Harrisburg radio
by
> Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, Larry Pratt of GOA and Melody Zullinger of the
> Federation.
>
> Please go to the Allegheny County Sportsmen's League website for analysis
of
> these bills: www.acslpa.org/
>
>
www.acslpa.org/n-legislative/PA%20Gunowners%20Under%20Attack/pa_gun_o
> wners_under_attack.htm
>
>
> FREEDOM PREVAILED TODAY BECAUSE OF GRASS ROOTS ACTION
>
> Thursday evening, the ACSL and PSA issued an alert that listed the
following
> organizations as being on record as opposing the legislation.
> The ACSL/PSA alert was widely distributed. Chomping at the bit for its
> first major legislative fight was the Pennsylvania Firearm Owners
> Association www.pafoa.org/ The founder of the PAFOA is an expert
in
> internet communications and has assembled a very large email list of
> dedicated Pennsylvania activists. Special thanks to Melody Zullinger of
the
> Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Judy Brown of the Second
> Amendment Sisters, Ken O'Donnell of West Shore Sportsmen's Association,
Inc
> and Jack Lee of the Pennsylvania Rifle and Pistol Association (PR&PA).
> Each of them went above and beyond. They certainly did their part as did
> the members and leaders of every organization listed below.
>
> Allegheny County Sportsmen's League (ACSL).
> Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs (PFSC).
> Pennsylvania Sportsmen's Association (PSA).
> National Rifle Association (NRA).
> Gun Owners of America (GOA).
> Second Amendment Sisters (SAS).
> Pennsylvania Rifle and Pistol Association (PR&PA).
> Pennsylvania Gun Collectors Association (PGCA).
> Lehigh Valley Firearms Coalition.
> Philadelphia Federation of Sportsmen's Club.
> Pennsylvania Gun Owners Association (PGOA).
> Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania (Unified).
> National Association of Firearms Retailers (NAFR).
> Pennsylvania State Fish & Game Protective Association.
> The Pink Pistols.
> OpenCarry.org.
> Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association (PAFOA).
> National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).
> Western Pennsylvania 30 Caliber League, Inc.
>
> Firearms Owners Against Crime (FOAC) the largest gun owners Political
Action
> Committee (PAC) in Pennsylvania will record any support for any of this
> legislation, now or in the future, as an anti-gun vote.
>
>
> THE RESPONSE:
>
> The ACSL/PSA alert was issued Thursday evening and included the list of
> organizations opposed and the email addresses of all committee members.
On
> Friday morning, one committee member reported that in just over an hour he
> received more than 400 emails encouraging the defeat of the three bills.
> Another said that he got so many email addresses that blackberry that it
> sounded like a machinegun.
>
> We are very grateful for the cooperation of every person who took part in
> this event. We only ask for help when legislative leaders ignore us and
> decide to move bad legislation over our objections. The fact that so many
> individuals quickly acted upon the information that we provided, proved to
> legislators that they are concerned and will act. Even Committee Chairman
> Caltagirone commented on the professional demeanor of the gun owners who
> were present during the hearing. In short, everyone did what they needed
> to do to defend freedom.
>
> We are also very grateful to the majority of the members of the Judiciary
> Committee who voted for freedom.
>
> The hearing was broadcast live on PCN-TV cable. It may be rebroadcast,
but
> you will need to check them every day to find out.
> www.pcntv.com/schedule.html look for "Firearm Regulations PA House
> Judiciary Committee" Check with you own cable provider for your PCN-TV
> channel.
>
> We strongly believe that the legislature should NOT consider any
additional
> restrictions on Article 1 Section 21 unless they first demonstrate
goodwill
> by removing laws that have been studied and found to not reduce crime to a
> measurable degree. The burden of proof must be on those who advocate
> infringements, rather than on those of us who defend freedom.
>
> The assumptions that justify most gun control laws have not withstood
> independent study.
>
> (2003) (CDC) Centers for Disease Control Task Force (2003) reported that
> they reviewed 51 published studies about the effectiveness of eight types
of
> gun-control laws. The laws included bans on specific firearms or
ammunition,
> measures barring felons from buying guns, and mandatory waiting periods
and
> firearm registration. In every case the CDC Task Force found
"insufficient
> evidence to determine the effectiveness of any of the firearms laws
reviewed
> for preventing violence." It should be noted that prior to actually
> studying the issue and producing this report, the Centers for Disease
> Control used tax dollars to lobby for gun control laws as a public health
> measure.
>
> (2005) (NAS) National Academy of Sciences Review "Firearms and Violence, a
> Critical Review "In summary, the committee concludes that existing
research
> studies and data . . . do not credibly demonstrate a causal relationship
> between the ownership of firearms and the causes or prevention of criminal
> violence or suicide. The issue of substitution (of the means of
committing
> homicide or suicide) has been almost entirely ignored in the literature .
.
> ."
>
> As further evidence, consider that Vermont has almost no gun laws and very
> low crime. Clearly, if you want a solution to crime, you need to look
> beyond scapegoating gun owners. Somehow the Governator forgot to cite
those
> studies in his address to the committee.
>
>
by Harry Schneider, PSA Legislative Chairman
> Pennsylvania Sportsmen's Association
>
> and
>
> Kim Stolfer, ACSL Legislative Chairman
> Allegheny County Sportsmen's League
>
> Harrisburg, November 20, 2007
>
> Governor Rendell appeared before the Pennsylvania House Judiciary
Committee
> to testify in favor of HB 18, HB 22, HB 29.
>
> Sitting beside the governor was his State police commissioner. Unlike
real
> police officers, commissioners serve at the pleasure of the governor just
as
> chiefs of police serve at the pleasure of mayors and city councils.
> Commissioner Miller and the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association have
> previously demonstrated a callous disregard for competitive target
shooters
> and American soldiers by supporting a ban on the very AR-15 H-BAR target
> rifles and CAR-15 type carbines that are used in competition and in
training
> prior to deployment to supplement the inadequate training that is provided
> by the Army. The troopers and officers who serve the public under such
> leadership deserve our deepest sympathies, respect and support.
>
> Governor Rendell gave an emotional speech in support of HB 18, HB 22 and
HB
> 29, once again ignoring the real causes and solutions to violent crime and
> falsely claiming that gun control is the answer - just as mainstream
doctors
> once prescribed bleeding as the answer to almost every ailment.
>
> Governor Rendell and Chairman Caltagirone would not have scheduled HB 18,
HB
> 22, HB 29 for a vote if they didn't think that their dog and pony show
would
> prevail. They were wrong.
>
> THE VOTES
>
> HB 18 was defeated 10-19
> HB 22 was defeated 12-17
> HB 29 was tabled 12-17
>
> HB 29 was tabled so that a very minor amendment can be added before
another
> vote is taken. Even with the proposed amendment, it will be very bad and
> dangerous legislation.
>
> Another bad bill, HB 1744 was previously rushed out of Judiciary committee
> because the NRA tweaked it and then withdrew its objections. The prime
> sponsor of HB 1744 is Judiciary Chairman Caltagirone who voted for HB 18,
HB
> 22, HB 29. HB 1744 was scheduled for a floor vote last Wednesday, but
was
> temporarily derailed because of an analysis drafted by the ACSL and PSA
that
> detailed numerous serious problems previously overlooked by the NRA.
These
> flaws were discussed in Appropriations Committee and on Harrisburg radio
by
> Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, Larry Pratt of GOA and Melody Zullinger of the
> Federation.
>
> Please go to the Allegheny County Sportsmen's League website for analysis
of
> these bills: www.acslpa.org/
>
>
www.acslpa.org/n-legislative/PA%20Gunowners%20Under%20Attack/pa_gun_o
> wners_under_attack.htm
>
>
> FREEDOM PREVAILED TODAY BECAUSE OF GRASS ROOTS ACTION
>
> Thursday evening, the ACSL and PSA issued an alert that listed the
following
> organizations as being on record as opposing the legislation.
> The ACSL/PSA alert was widely distributed. Chomping at the bit for its
> first major legislative fight was the Pennsylvania Firearm Owners
> Association www.pafoa.org/ The founder of the PAFOA is an expert
in
> internet communications and has assembled a very large email list of
> dedicated Pennsylvania activists. Special thanks to Melody Zullinger of
the
> Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Judy Brown of the Second
> Amendment Sisters, Ken O'Donnell of West Shore Sportsmen's Association,
Inc
> and Jack Lee of the Pennsylvania Rifle and Pistol Association (PR&PA).
> Each of them went above and beyond. They certainly did their part as did
> the members and leaders of every organization listed below.
>
> Allegheny County Sportsmen's League (ACSL).
> Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs (PFSC).
> Pennsylvania Sportsmen's Association (PSA).
> National Rifle Association (NRA).
> Gun Owners of America (GOA).
> Second Amendment Sisters (SAS).
> Pennsylvania Rifle and Pistol Association (PR&PA).
> Pennsylvania Gun Collectors Association (PGCA).
> Lehigh Valley Firearms Coalition.
> Philadelphia Federation of Sportsmen's Club.
> Pennsylvania Gun Owners Association (PGOA).
> Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania (Unified).
> National Association of Firearms Retailers (NAFR).
> Pennsylvania State Fish & Game Protective Association.
> The Pink Pistols.
> OpenCarry.org.
> Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association (PAFOA).
> National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF).
> Western Pennsylvania 30 Caliber League, Inc.
>
> Firearms Owners Against Crime (FOAC) the largest gun owners Political
Action
> Committee (PAC) in Pennsylvania will record any support for any of this
> legislation, now or in the future, as an anti-gun vote.
>
>
> THE RESPONSE:
>
> The ACSL/PSA alert was issued Thursday evening and included the list of
> organizations opposed and the email addresses of all committee members.
On
> Friday morning, one committee member reported that in just over an hour he
> received more than 400 emails encouraging the defeat of the three bills.
> Another said that he got so many email addresses that blackberry that it
> sounded like a machinegun.
>
> We are very grateful for the cooperation of every person who took part in
> this event. We only ask for help when legislative leaders ignore us and
> decide to move bad legislation over our objections. The fact that so many
> individuals quickly acted upon the information that we provided, proved to
> legislators that they are concerned and will act. Even Committee Chairman
> Caltagirone commented on the professional demeanor of the gun owners who
> were present during the hearing. In short, everyone did what they needed
> to do to defend freedom.
>
> We are also very grateful to the majority of the members of the Judiciary
> Committee who voted for freedom.
>
> The hearing was broadcast live on PCN-TV cable. It may be rebroadcast,
but
> you will need to check them every day to find out.
> www.pcntv.com/schedule.html look for "Firearm Regulations PA House
> Judiciary Committee" Check with you own cable provider for your PCN-TV
> channel.
>
> We strongly believe that the legislature should NOT consider any
additional
> restrictions on Article 1 Section 21 unless they first demonstrate
goodwill
> by removing laws that have been studied and found to not reduce crime to a
> measurable degree. The burden of proof must be on those who advocate
> infringements, rather than on those of us who defend freedom.
>
> The assumptions that justify most gun control laws have not withstood
> independent study.
>
> (2003) (CDC) Centers for Disease Control Task Force (2003) reported that
> they reviewed 51 published studies about the effectiveness of eight types
of
> gun-control laws. The laws included bans on specific firearms or
ammunition,
> measures barring felons from buying guns, and mandatory waiting periods
and
> firearm registration. In every case the CDC Task Force found
"insufficient
> evidence to determine the effectiveness of any of the firearms laws
reviewed
> for preventing violence." It should be noted that prior to actually
> studying the issue and producing this report, the Centers for Disease
> Control used tax dollars to lobby for gun control laws as a public health
> measure.
>
> (2005) (NAS) National Academy of Sciences Review "Firearms and Violence, a
> Critical Review "In summary, the committee concludes that existing
research
> studies and data . . . do not credibly demonstrate a causal relationship
> between the ownership of firearms and the causes or prevention of criminal
> violence or suicide. The issue of substitution (of the means of
committing
> homicide or suicide) has been almost entirely ignored in the literature .
.
> ."
>
> As further evidence, consider that Vermont has almost no gun laws and very
> low crime. Clearly, if you want a solution to crime, you need to look
> beyond scapegoating gun owners. Somehow the Governator forgot to cite
those
> studies in his address to the committee.
>
>