PA Bill Number: HB829
Title: In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions;
Description: An Act amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the Liquor Code, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions;
Last Action: Signed in House
Last Action Date: Jul 3, 2024
Hundreds rally in Harrisburg for Second Amendment rights: When they get our guns, we can't do anything about it. :: 05/01/2018
Hundreds of gun-rights supporters crowded into the Pennsylvania Capitol Monday to voice their support for the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment.
A sea of men, women and children stood shoulder to shoulder on the Rotunda floor and up the grand marble steps to the second-story balcony in a peaceful, loud show of solidarity.
Some wore red or blue vests depicting the rattle snake logo of militias or the uniforms of their county sheriff’s offices. Others carried signs, such as “Plantations are Gun Free Zones,” “Please Pray for President Trump” and “50 years of gun control has not stopped school shootings! Can we try something else now, please?”
State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler, the event’s organizer, told the crowd the “[political] left is out of control” when it comes to refrains for adding more state and federal laws that would restrict gun owners’ rights.
The crowd erupted into cheers.
The rally was held as gun-control advocates have been gaining momentum nationally following school shootings in Florida and elsewhere.
Lee Gower, 60, of Beaver Falls, Beaver County, attends gun-rights rally on Monday in the Pennsylvania Capitol.
Lee Gower, 60, of Beaver Falls, Beaver County, attends gun-rights rally on Monday in the Pennsylvania Capitol. (STEVE ESACK / THE MORNING CALL)
Last week, Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, held a news conference in which he and his state police commissioner called for tighter gun-control legislation.
Wolf praised the state Senate for unanimously passing a gun-safety bill aimed at keeping firearms out of the hands of convicted domestic abusers. The bill is now in the more conservative House, where gun-control legislation has been tougher to pass even though lawmakers held several recent hearings on gun-safety bills.
While standing with Wolf, Acting Police Commissioner Lt. Col. Robert Evanchick lobbied for lawmakers to pass a bill enhancing his agency's ability to conduct background checks on all firearm transactions in the state. A universal check also would allow background checks on long guns: Defined as a rifle with a barrel longer than 16 inches, a shotgun barrel longer than 18 inches or a handgun with a barrel longer than 12 inches.
Wolf said he supports a state ban on military-style assault weapons, but a nationwide ban would be better to prevent cross-border sales.
The Rotunda crowd didn’t want to hear any of that.
“You don’t look like monsters today, you don’t look like terrorists today,” said Cam Edwards, a radio host of the National Rifle Association’s network, NRA News. “Give me a shout if you care more about your guns than your kids.”
Woo, a couple voices rang out to laughter.
Charles Kern, 64, retired pattern-maker from Jonestown, Lebanon County, owns guns and teaches shooting at his local Boy Scouts range. He doesn’t want to see anyone take those joys away.
“When they get our guns, we can’t do anything about it,” he said.
The right to bear arms is about “keeping government in check,” said Rep. Matt Dowling, R-Fayette.
Elaine Anderson, 52, of New Galilee, Beaver County, brought her six daughters and one son to the event.
“In my family the Second Amendment is important and we want to support that,” she said. “We want to protect our Second Amendment for future generations.”
