Category: Guns

Rendell Vetos Castle Doctrine

As expected, Gov. Ed Rendell today vetoed HB 1926 , a bill which would have greatly expanded the grounds on which one could used deadly force to defend oneself. The bill would have ended significant requirements to retreat from a potential assailant before employing protective force and would  have expanded the “Castle Doctrine”  to matters outside the home and workplace.

The Castle Doctrine, as specifically described in HB 1926, is a “Common Law doctrine of ancient origins which declares that a home is a person’s castle.”

The bill passed the State House 61-35 and the State Senate 45-4 which are easily enough to overturn a veto. The legislative session, however, has ended for the year and so the bill will have to be introduced in the next one. Incoming Gov. Tom Corbett is expected to be willing to sign such a bill.

Rendell also vetoed HB 1231, which
would define cancer as an occupational disease for firefighters making
it easier for them to get workers’ compensation. He also vetoed a bill that would have restricted public access to autopsy reports.

 

Rendell Signs Gen Theft Bill

Gov. Ed Rendell, yesterday, as expected, signed the Gen Theft pension bill which bails out the state’s public pension system at a cost to the average household in Pennsylvania estimated by Commonwealth Foundation to eventually be  $1,360 per year .

Of course the pension plans bailed out by HB 2497 include the very sweet one received by our legislators .

The bailout was one of 22 last-minute bills signed into law by Rendell yesterday.

Rendell also signed HB 1639 , a significant  overhaul of the state’s child custody system and which makes gender-neutrality a requirement in contempt issues for willful violations of custody orders by either parent. Divorced fathers have testified that they have been unable to get action against their former wives for such violations.

Rendell did not, however,  act on HB 1231, which would define cancer as an occupational disease for firefighters making it easier for them to get workers’ compensation. He has until tomorrow to do so.

Nor has he acted on HB 1926 aka the Castle Doctrine which would end the requirement to retreat from a potential assailant before employing protective force. Rendell has until Monday to sign HB 1926. Don’t hold your breath on that one.

PA House OKs Castle Doctrine

PA House OKs Castle Doctrine ––  The Pennsylvania House, this afternoon, passed a bill giving the state’s citizens the right not to retreat from assailants.

The 161-35 vote for HB 1926 follows a 45-4 vote made Oct. 14 in the state Senate. It now goes to Gov. Ed Rendell, an outspoken opponent of self-defense rights, for his signature.

While the margins in both house are enough to overturn a veto it appears Rendell, if he so chooses, may be able simply be able to sit on the bill until the session ends forcing the process to start from scratch in January.

The bill says that a  person employing protective force may estimate the necessity thereof under the circumstances as he believes them to be when the force is used, without retreating, surrendering possession, doing any other act which he has no legal duty to do or abstaining from any lawful action.

PA House OKs Castle Doctrine

159-38 For “Stand Your Ground”

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives this afternoon voted 159-38 to approve  a bill that would significantly expand the right to self-defense in Pennsylvania.The bill now goes to the senate.

The was an increase of three for the bill over a special motion passed yesterday that  prevented the attachment of a large number of  anti-gun riders.

A roll call will soon  be available here.

If the bill cannot make it through the senate, however, or if the votes are not available to override an expected veto by Gov. Rendell, the process will have to start afresh next year.

House Bill 40provides that “no person should be required to surrender his or her personal safety to a criminal, nor should a person be required to needlessly retreat in the face of intrusion or attack outside the person’s home or vehicle.”

The bill declares that, with some exceptions such as the intruder being a police officer lawfully performing his duty, a person may may be presumed to have a belief in the need to use deadly force if he should find someone in his home or attempting to enter his home or vehicle.

The bill also spells out that a law-aiding citizen has “no duty to retreat” and has “right to stand his ground and use force, including deadly force if he “has a right to be in the place where he was attacked,” believes it necessary to do so “to protect himself against death, serious bodily injury, kidnapping or sexual intercourse by force or threat” and “the person against whom the force is used displays or otherwise uses: a firearm or replica . . . or any other weapon readily or apparently capable of lethal use.”

The bill also provides for civil immunity for the use of force.

Pa House Preps Way For “Stand Your Ground” Law

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives, yesterday, voted 156-41 to pass a special motion that prevented the attachment of a large number of  anti-gun riders to a bill that would significantly expand the right to self-defense in Pennsylvania. A final vote is expected today after which the bill will go to the senate.

Five members were absent.

House Bill 40 provides that “no person should be required to surrender his or her personal safety to a criminal, nor should a person be required to needlessly retreat in the face of intrusion or attack outside the person’s home or vehicle.”

The bill declares that, with some exceptions such as the intruder being a police officer lawfully performing his duty, a person may may be presumed to have a belief in the need to use deadly force if he should find someone in his home or attempting to enter his home or vehicle.

The bill also spells out that a law-aiding citizen has “no duty to retreat” and has “right to stand his ground and use force, including deadly force if he “has a right to be in the place where he was attacked,” believes it necessary to do so “to protect himself against death, serious bodily injury, kidnapping or sexual intercourse by force or threat” and “the person against whom the force is used displays or otherwise uses: a firearm or replica . . . or any other weapon readily or apparently capable of lethal use.”

The bill also provides for civil immunity for the use of force.

Regarding Delaware County’s contingent, Republicans Stephen Barrar (160), Nick Miccarelli (162), Nick Micozzie (163), Mario Civera Jr. (164), Bill Adolph (165), and Tom Killion (168) voted aye; while Democrats Thaddeus Kirkland (159), Bryan Lentz (161),  Greg Vitali (166), Robert Donatucci (185), Vanessa Brown (190) and Ronald Waters (191) voted nay.

Education Department Wants Short-Barrel Shotguns

Education Department Wants Short-Barrel Shotguns — The federal Department of Education is soliciting bids for 27 Remington Model 870 12-gauge shotguns with 14-inch barrels.

Why does the federal Department of Education need 27 Remington Model 870 12-gauge shotguns with 14-inch barrels?

Now, someone might make a comment like “ho ho ho, maybe they might have to enter South Philadelphia High” and think they are being smart, but someone making such a comment would only show themselves to be rather stupid.

The Department of Education has absolutely no defense or law enforcement purpose. Buying guns indicates a perverse mission creep and that those running the department are not really people we want in government.

Education Department Wants Short-Barrel Shotguns

Education Department Wants Short-Barrel Shotguns

Boeing Guards Guns Stolen

Pinkerton Government Services, which is responsible for providing security at the Boeing helicopter plant in Ridley Township, Pa., reported to township police yesterday that someone stole their guns.

Missing are six .40 caliber semiautomatic handguns and eight .38-caliber revolvers. They had been in a storage locker.
The plant manufactures the CH-47 Chinook and most of the V-22 Osprey.
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