The eyes of Pennsylvanians rightfully grow ever more focused on a court battle that will end an ongoing threat to our rights and Constitutional form of government, or deem the state government to be "above the law!" Wake up, wise up, and tune in! * * * * * Allegheny County Sportsmen's League lawsuit draws national attention July 21, 2002 By Jim Slinsky; host and producer of the Sportsmen's Connection, a statewide syndicated outdoor talk radio program. Write him in care of: The Courier Times, 8400 Route 13, Levittown, PA 19057, fax 570-325-5537 or e-mail slinskyj@aol.com. If the Supreme Court rules on behalf of the ACSL, the case will be remanded back to Commonwealth Court to be argued via a full trial. ACSL will finally have their day in court. The year was 1975 and his name was Pete Shields. He founded and became president of his brainchild, Handgun Control, Inc. (HCI). By January 1976, Shields in an interview for a major national magazine laid out his plans. First, he advocated we must slow the manufacture of handguns. Secondly, we must institute national registration for all handguns. Lastly, we must make all handguns illegal. Needless to say, confiscation of any firearm cannot happen without complete registration and a data base from which to collect the arms. This was Shields' vision. In September 2002, the Allegheny County Sportsmen's League (ACSL) will be arguing their case against our Pennsylvania State Police's handgun registration procedures before the state Supreme Court. You should remember last year the ACSL went before Commonwealth Court and requested that all handgun registration be halted per Pennsylvania Act 17 (1995) and Act 5 (1997). In a 5 to 2 decision the court ruled that the state's handgun registration procedures were legal because they constituted a partial registry and not a complete registry. ACSL also wants former Gov. Tom Ridge to be held responsible in the case. Violation of Act 17 carries a penalty of $250 and 2-5 years in prison for each registration transaction. In a questionnaire from ACSL Ridge stated he wholeheartedly supports gun registration. He readily admits there are 8 million law-abiding gun owners in the state within the State Police database. Recently, this case has taken on a whole, new, national meaning. Amicus curiae briefs (friend of the court) have been filed by some of the heaviest hitting anti-gun organizations in the nation. The Brady Center Against Handgun Violence (formerly HCI), the US Million Mom March, the Pennsylvania Million Mom March, Cease Fire Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police have all come to the aid of former Ridge and our State Police. It is easy to see anti-gun forces don't want to lose this one. They are attempting to make this a test case for registration schemes across the nation. The National Rifle Association has jumped into the fray on behalf of ACSL and law-abiding gun owners. Pennsylvania has become the focus of national attention. Rumor says the legal fees to bring this case to court are going to top $100,000. ACSL is toying with establishment of a statewide legal defense fund. Frankly, I think that is a fantastic idea. One day sportsmen may find it is necessary to sue the Game Commission, DCNR or Fish Commission for some great wrong that must be righted. If our legislators ever decided to make State Game Lands part of State Forest Lands, sportsmen will need huge sums of money to protect their rights and interests. Go to www.acsl.org for the extreme details of this case. I don't know why every self-respecting club in this state hasn't come to the financial aid of ACSL. Rumor says Ridge is under strong consideration for VP in the 2004 Bush campaign. Why would he take positions contrary to Acts 17 and 5, which he signed into law? Is he getting bad advice? Is it pride or principle? Maybe, it is that all too common political affliction - simply abuse of power and political arrogance. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Where does the PGOA stand on the lawsuit for ending the registration of lawful gun owners? As from the beginning, the PGOA's position, we remain in full support of this effort! Everyone that has even the slightest amount of respect for our rights and Constitution shouldn't even think twice about supporting this FIGHT! This was not a plan to embarrass any politician. Many groups have worked hard to get this resolved without the time and expenses of the courts. Even when the FBI sided with us, Tom Ridge and the head of the state police would not obey the laws! In Pennsylvania we know the meaning of "is", along with the meaning of "Shall not be Questioned" as well as the clear intent and meaning of Title 18 Section 6111.4 that states: "nothing . . . shall be construed to allow any government or law enforcement agency or any agent thereof to create, maintain or operate any registry of firearm ownership within this Commonwealth." Got it? "any registry of firearm ownership" is illegal, period, dot, dun deal!
It is truly a poor commentary on the entire state government when the legislature allows the checks and balances to fail, and the Citizens have to ban together to uphold the law! It is however very uplifting to see various groups supporting an action that would be nearly impossible for any one group to take on against the political machines by themselves. Gladly, this issue should be corrected in the courts soon, and more drastic measures will not be needed.
We as Pennsylvanians must demand our state government return to operating totally within the law and completely within the confines of the Constitution! There is no room for anyone in government in this state that proposes or supports any state infringement of law, and I mean particularly at the top! zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz The election is on it's way! The controversy boils. Both major parties see the gun rights issues as a third rail. Their candidates for governor couldn't impress the spit out of a grass-hopper with their unwillingness to state any personal resolve to stand up for our Constitution or rights! Constitutional Party. That has a pretty good ring to it! Their candidate, Dean Snyder has a stronger printed stand than "Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dumb added together! He could end up with a lot of votes if someone doesn't get impressive in a hurry! -Roy D. Pittman