The NRA wants special rules so they can attack towns fighting gun violence.

stop


30 municipalities across Pennsylvania have worked closely with law enforcement to craft local ordinances that require gun owners to notify police when they discover their gun has been lost or stolen.  It's common sense, but they had to take local action because legislators in Harrisburg refused to pass a statewide law, even though police said it would help crack down on illegal gun trafficking and straw purchasers.

Why? Because the NRA told them not to.

The NRA has tried to beat these local laws in Pennsylvania courts six times, and each time the Judge has allowed the law the stand, including the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Judge Bonnie Leadbetter even said that she was "unconvinced that the ordinance burdens the right [to bear arms].”

So now the NRA is trying to rewrite the rules so they can win.

If the NRA gets their way, they'll be able to sue cities in court, even though nobody's rights have been violated. They'll be able to blackmail cities that are trying to keep their residents safe, and force them to take back popular commonsense reforms to avoid the risk of costly, frivolous lawsuits. They'd have to put taxpayer dollars right into NRA bank accounts.

In the House it is HB1523, in the Senate it is SB1438.

This is a bad bill, but don't take our word for it. Mayors, police, and newspapers around the state are speaking up against the proposal:

Philadelphia Inquirer
PHILADELPHIA - "Legislators want it both ways: they refuse to protect citizens, but they'll be damned if they allow cities to do it for them."

Pittsburgh Post Gazette
PITTSBURGH - "Evidence that the state Legisalture is a wholly owned subsidiary of the NRA comes in many forms. The latest is HB 1523... Will any legislators stand up to this favor being done for the NRA?"

Scranton Times Trib
SCRANTON - "This is a simple case of lawmakers shilling for a very narrow interest. A majority of law makers should arise to speak instead for public safety."

Lancaster Intelligencer Journal
LANCASTER - "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see the hand of the NRA behind HB 1523. If lawmakers truly want to eliminate this "hodgepodge" of gun laws, all they have to do is pass the statewide reporting ordinance."

Send a message to your legislators:

This bill has been introduced in both the House and the Senate. Ask you legislators not to make a new set of rules just for the NRA. Everybody knows its wrong to give an interest group special treatment - but the NRA thinks they are different.

Instead of threatening to punish communities for taking action, our legislators should support them by passing a statewide lost or stolen handgun reporting requirement.  That way the whole state will be united under one law, and police will have a powerful tool to get illegal gun traffickers off the street.

Enter your zip below to find your legislators -

Search For Officials

Zip Code: Zip+4 (Optional):

Once you've sent your message, help us spread the word by joining the conversation on Facebook. Click:


Facebook