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
Pennsylvania: Allentown passes resolution pushing state to ban guns in municipal buildings :: 03/07/2019
Over the objections of armed gun advocates who packed Allentown City Council chambers Wednesday night, the board passed a resolution encouraging the state to allow gun bans in municipal buildings.
The resolution, which was co-sponsored by five members of council, encourages legislators to change state law which currently bars guns in some public buildings, such as courthouses, but permits them in municipal buildings.
The legislation, which is non-binding, notes several past shootings in Pennsylvania municipal buildings and also cites a January incident where a man pulled a gun on police officers inside the Allentown Police station.
“The presence of firearms can intimidate others and prevent open dialogue,” the resolution states.
Gun advocates, headed the 2nd Amendment Committee of the Lehigh Valley Tea Party, packed council chambers in protest of the resolution.
Eric Trimmer, chairman of the committee, pledged to strongly oppose any council members who supported the resolution.
“Forever. We won’t forget,” he said, a handgun visible on his hip.
Trimmer said making City Hall a gun-free zone would infringe on the rights of city residents to protect themselves when they are inside.
Another gun advocate cited an incident in Allentown last month when a resident fended off a robbery attempt by fatally shooting a man with a weapon the victim was licensed to carry. Lehigh County District Attorney James Martin said at the time the shooting was justified.
Supporters of the resolution on City Council insisted that it wasn’t meant to “take away” guns, but to protect city employees and officials.
“Tempers do get flared in here. We’ve had the officer escort people out on several occasions. We’re very vulnerable up here,” said Councilwoman Candida Affa, one of the bill’s sponsors.
Council members Julio Guridy, Daryl Hendricks, Cynthia Mota and Courtney Robinson joined in co-sponsoring the bill. Councilmen Roger MacLean and Ed Zucal voted against the measure.
Fritz Walker, secretary of the CeaseFire PA board of directors, encouraged council to pass the resolution, calling it a “responsible approach” that did not disobey state law.
State law currently allows an exception to gun carrying rights in court facilities, but that does not extend to municipal buildings. In court facilities, gun holders are required to check their guns at the door and stow them in a locker until they leave.
The law’s definition of a court facility is broad and includes any building with a courtroom, judge’s chambers, attorney conference rooms or offices for the district attorney, sheriff or probation or parole officers. In the past, county municipal buildings have been able to ban firearms under that definition.
Attempts to ban guns on municipal property across the commonwealth have been struck down based on a section of the state’s Uniform Firearms Act, which stops local governments from regulating the lawful ownership of a gun when carried for purposes that don’t violate any state laws.
Council members agreed to strike some language in the resolution as it was printed on council’s agenda after members of the public complained that it was unprofessional.
A section reading the following was stricken: “Allentown City Council believes a majority of citizens are downright astonished and appalled that persons can walk into public meetings with firearms, let alone go about parading in municipal offices.”
https://www.mcall.com/news/local/allentown/mc-nws-allentown-gun-ban-council-20190219-story.html
