proposed laws

PA Bill Number: HB777

Title: In firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for definitions and providing for the offense of sale of firearm or firearm parts without ...

Description: In firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for definitions and providing for the offense of sale of firearm or firearm parts without ...

Last Action: Third consideration and final passage (104-97)

Last Action Date: Mar 27, 2024

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Lehigh Valley gun rights advocates rally against Second Amendment challenges :: 06/10/2019

Dozens of gun rights advocates spent a picture-perfect Saturday afternoon rallying at a North Whitehall Township rifle club in defense of the Second Amendment.

The four-hour rally at Relic Hunter Firing Line was held amid a festive atmosphere, with food for sale, literature to read, and music to enjoy by radio station WAEB-AM, which promoted the event.

Some who came to the rally proudly wore their handguns in holsters. Others wore NRA caps or clothing. One man sported a black T-shirt with the words “F--- Your Gun Free Zone.”

The rally took place a day after gun-control groups across Pennsylvania hosted events in observance of National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

“The media will tell you that most people will want more gun laws,” Gerard Stezelberger, owner of Relic Hunter Firing Line on Egypt Road, told a crowd of about 50 or so gathered under a tent and dozens more on the grounds. “Talking to people every day as a business owner, I don’t find that to be the case at all, because we already have laws."

 Dozens of people listen to speakers at the start of a four-hour gun-rights rally Saturday at a rifle club in North Whitehall Township.

Dozens of people listen to speakers at the start of a four-hour gun-rights rally Saturday at a rifle club in North Whitehall Township. (Anthony Salamone/The Morning Call)

He rejected as biased national polls showing that most Americans favor tighter gun controls. And he used his platform to rail against media that publicize such reports.

“In the Lehigh Valley, that enemy of freedom takes the form of The Morning Call and other similar news organizations,” he said, calling their coverage “staunchly anti-conservative, anti-gun and anti-freedom."

To applause, he added, “Today we stand up and show them we are not going away and will not be silenced. We will fight them to the very end.”

The rally’s other speakers included: Tom Carroll, chairman of the Lehigh Valley Tea Party and the Republican candidate for Northampton County district attorney; Allentown blogger Chris Ford; former Republican Lehigh County Commissioner Dean Browning, who is running for Congress in the Seventh District; and Joshua Prince, a Berks County attorney specializing in gun law.

Prince urged the audience to be vigilant around election time, saying, "Your rights are on the line. If you can’t do the civic duty, then you really need to assess how much you value your Constitutional rights”

Jim and Stephanie Kalavoda of Whitehall Township said they came to support the Second Amendment, and browsed through the gun shop while they were there. Both are gun owners.

“It’s the kind of thing you hope you never need, but ... ,” Stephanie Kalavoda said, her voice trailing off.

Tom Seeley, of Allen Township, attended with his 16-year-old son, Zach. Seeley said there is much that gun-control advocates are ignorant about.

“They have no understanding of what the Constitution is, what it means, what the forefathers went through to get the country to be what it is today,” he said, as Don McLean’s “American Pie” played in the background.

Zach, a Northampton Area High School student, said he is learning how to safely fire a gun. He talked about the drills his school holds to prepare students and staff in the event of an active shooter.

“I think the most useful part about it, though, is that there are two security guards who carry [guns] in the school,” he said, "and that’s what makes me feel safe.”

Anthony Salamone can be reached at 610-820-6694 or asalamone@mcall.com.

https://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-nws-coplay-gun-rights-20190608-snyi3scopnhftpiv7c3vlnkqfu-story.html