U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- Last week, Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed a pair of pro-Second Amendment bills that had passed both chambers of the Legislature with solid support. The move was not unexpected, given that the anti-gun Governor has been unilaterally demonstrating his disdain for freedom and liberty for months.
Nevertheless, we want to thank the legislators who took a bold stand for the rights of Pennsylvanians. House Bill 2440 and House Bill 1747 had both passed the Senate in November on votes of 29-20 after easily clearing the House earlier this Fall. These bills were written to protect constitutionally guaranteed rights during declared states of emergencies.
House Bill 2440, by Rep. Bill Kortz, would have designated shooting ranges, sportsman clubs, hunting facilities, and business relating to the sale or production of firearms and ammunition as life-sustaining. House Bill 1747, by Rep. Matthew Dowling, would have prevented state and local governments from suspending or limiting the sale, dispensing, or transportation of firearms during a declared emergency. It also would have removed the carry prohibitions that exist with exemptions.
COVID-19, and the closures occurring across much of the country, have forced a reexamination of statutes in many states with regard to declared states of emergency. Citizens are guaranteed basic fundamental rights that should never be infringed, particularly in these tumultuous times. We have witnessed firsthand the inability of the government to protect people, and it is absolutely essential that citizens be able to provide for their own self-defense, especially during a declared state of emergency. While Gov. Wolf’s veto is disappointing, NRA will continue to fight for the rights of all Pennsylvanians.
We would like to thank all of the NRA members who contacted their legislators and the Governor.
About NRA-ILA:
Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the “lobbying” arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess, and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Visit: www.nra.org
The legislation passing or failing is irrelevant as is the guy in the white house (although Trump gives us more time to prepare). The die is cast, there is no reform and definably no voting your way out of this. Do something productive – start thinking about and planning for what comes next.
TYRANNY and TREASON.. RIGHTS are NOT things that are able to be suspended unless jailed or in the looney farm. Those who say or actually try to suspend the FREEDOMS and RIGHTS that are given to mankind from the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY and further written into law as our constitution, bill of rights and amendments are criminal to the point of TYRANNY and TREASON and are subject to the legal punnishment for their crimes.
Arm up and carry on
what are PA’s rules to overrule a veto? do they have the votes to do so? the wuhan virus does not rise to the level of “state of emergency” powers acts/executive actions by state governors. if so, then every year come cold and flu season they could do the same. this is just an attempt by power hungry politicians attempting to exercise their power over citizens. like the french revolution this might not end as they want. the party of science really does not believe in science, facts or statistical data.
“Emergency Powers” is the slippery slope. What is to prevent these power hungry Governor’s from declaring “gun violence “ as a public health hazard ?
Gun owners are like cigarette smokers, they have become second class citizens in the eyes of many elected officials and the only reason they still tolerate them is the massive amount of tax dollars that both generate. My feeling is if the state has not passed a law about mask wearing or the shutting down of any business under the emergency declaration and signed into law by the governor it should not be allowed to stand in a court of law. Who gets to decide what is an emergency and what should the state ,county or city enforce without a… Read more »