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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So, how did our members respond to Toomey? Here's one guy's response, and I think it echoes all of our thoughts. :: 04/20/2013

Not everybody got a quote in the news, but our own Tim Sorady did.

Timothy Sorady, a member of Firearm Owners against Crime, the NRA and Pennsylvania Concerned Citizens, thinks it offers no solution.

A coalition of pro-gun groups in January rallied under the banner, Pennsylvania Responsible Citizens, at the state Capitol in defense of the Second Amendment. Dan Gleiter dgleiter&pennlive.com

"They are not addressing the problem," he said. "It was January 10 when the Obama Administration admitted they don't have the time to prosecute people for lying on federal background check forms. So they are really doing nothing. The background check system is currently so overwhelmed and you are going to put more strain on people who want to transfer a firearm. A criminal is not going to go through background checks. So they are doing nothing other than penalizing law-abiding citizens."

Like Staudt, Sorady called Toomey's office.

"I told him if he continues on this path, it's going to lead to his dismissal from the Senate," Sorady said. "There is no reason for it."

Sorady said the legislation would force government to define mentally ill. He said the country already fails returning combat veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress syndrome and who may act out in gun violence.

"They are penalizing them. That's wrong," he said. "They are going about it all wrong. You have somebody who is seriously mentally ill, yes, they shouldn't have a firearm but then again they should be in a program to get the help they need."

Staud said he realizes Toomey is trying to get legislation through that would not infringe on Second Amendment rights as badly as other proposals.

"I understand that, but sometimes the best thing for government to do is nothing," he said.

Staudt said if states like Colorado want to pass sweeping gun legislation, then it's up to the state and the citizens of the state to deal with the situation.

"It's states choose to do this, that's fine," he said. "If the people of Colorado don't like it, they can go next door. I don't like it when the federal government gets involved. It restricts people."