Posted on 04/30/2007 7:36:03 AM PDT by Virginia Ridgerunner
Backers of a controversial gun-registration bill are planning to amend it so that it only applies to gun owners in Philadelphia, but many pro-gun lawmakers say the changes won't win their support.
Rep. Angel Cruz, D-Philadelphia, has scheduled a Monday news conference to announce changes to House Bill 760, which touched off a political firestorm after he introduced it last month.
The discord intensified last week after a gun-rights protester brought a sign to a Capitol rally saying Cruz should be should be "hung from the tree of liberty."
The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus called for a police investigation into whether the sign constituted a threat. Two days later, Rep. Jewell Williams, D-Philadelphia, a black caucus member who joined the call for a police probe, told The Associated Press he received a threatening e-mail and would likely start wearing a bullet-proof and carrying his gun more often.
As for the bill, lawmakers who back gun rights say they will still oppose the amended version because they don't want to infringe on the rights of law-abiding gun owners anywhere in the state. They also say the changes don't improve the chances for a bill expected to die in committee.
"If you get honest people to register their guns (in Philadelphia), do you really think crack dealers are going to register their guns too?" Rep. Dan Moul, R-Adams, said.
As originally written, Cruz' bill would require most Pennsylvania gun owners to register their firearms annually and pay a $10 fee. There would be exceptions for antiques and duty weapons used by law-enforcement personnel.
Current law does not require a permit to own a gun, but a permit is required to carry a concealed weapon.
Midstate lawmakers have been bombarded with calls from angry gun owners after sportsmen's clubs and the National Rifle Association urged its members to lobby against Cruz' bill.
The amendment to restrict the registration rules only to Philadelphia is being drafted by Rep. Rosita Youngblood, D-Philadelphia, the bill's only co-sponsor. Cruz is drafting one to eliminate the $10 fee.
Cruz said he backs Youngblood's amendment because the bill was sparked by Philadelphia's soaring homicide rate. The city recorded its 125th homicide of 2007 last weekend, and more than 400 homicides in 2006.
"That's where the most crime is," Cruz said.
Asked if the outcry over the bill also played a role in the changes, Cruz replied, "I've been listening to the debate. I listen to the negative end and the positive end to be a better legislator tomorrow."
Rep. Steven Nickol, R-Hanover, opposed the original version and said he won't be swayed by the planned changes.
"I read the bill, and I feel the only thing it does is generate revenue. Law-abiding Philadelphians would still be in jeopardy if they don't register their guns," Nickol said.
Several pro-gun lawmakers also predict the changes won't mute criticism about the bill.
"Not in the least," Nickol said.
Thank you in advance Mr. Cruz.
I noticed that. He will keep you from carrying your gun, but he will carry HIS GUN more often.
Well, there was a lot more to this than the article is saying. If passed into law, the bill would have required lawful gun owners to undergo an intrusive criminal background check through the State police every year, complete with finger printing and photographs, and it would have been $10 per gun, among other things.
Here is another article on the rally and the banner in question: (http://www.eveningsun.com/fastsearchresults/ci_5747298
Also, the Evening Sun, a Democratic-leaning newspaper, burped loudly with this piece here: (http://www.eveningsun.com/editorials/ci_5739303)
Here is the editorial.
************************************************************
Everything Under the Sun
EVENING SUN ONLINE
Article Launched: 04/24/2007 11:04:35 AM EDT
It didn't take long for gun owners to start taking shots at a new measure proposed by a Philadelphia lawmaker.
But maybe they should just swallow a chill pill.
Democratic Rep. Angel Cruz, alarmed at the city's 100 homicides in three months, introduced the measure which would require gun owners to register their guns annually and pay a $10 fee for each.
The measure looked like it was more about extorting revenue than protecting public safety. But the outcry was so immediate and so vehement, that already two of Cruz's five co-sponsors have withdrawn their support. And Cruz himself has backed down some, too, by agreeing to forget about the $10 fee.
In fact, almost no one thinks this bill stands a chance of being passed, not even in light of last week's shooting at Virginia Tech. No, even with anti-gun sentiment seeing the uptick that always occurs after a mass shooting, this bill is dead on arrival.
Still, some people just have to freak out whenever gun control is mentioned. So, if it makes you feel better, go ahead and exercise your god-given right to shoot off your mouth about those anti-gun liberals and those crazy Philadelphia Democrats and that larcenous bunch of money grubbers in Harrisburg.
Take a place that has unusual numbers of shootings by criminals who don't obey the existing gun laws, And further disarm the normal citizen.
Make sense?
Any liberals lurking here, please feel free to explain to me how this will reduce shootings, protect the law-abiding citizens and generally improve anything.
This bill never had any chance of passing in PA, and if it had the only effect it would have had would have been to create about 2 million new criminals. We were never going to register our firearms like this, law or no law.
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