Sebastian – Page 1438 – Shall Not Be Questioned

Michael “Snuffy” Pfleger Reprimanded

Looks like Snuffy got a reprimand from the Cardinal.

Cardinal Francis George has taken an unusual step: Reprimanding an activist priest, the Rev. Michael Pfleger, for comments he made at a recent anti-gun rally in Riverdale.

It’s the latest episode in longstanding tensions between George and Pfleger, who have clashed over everything from doctrine to politics.

“I thought things were getting better,” Pfleger said Thursday.

“Publicly delivering a threat against anyone’s life betrays the civil order and is morally outrageous, especially if this threat came from a priest,” George said in his statement.

I couldn’t agree more.Â Sounds like Snuffy and the Cardinal have long standing issues.Â I can’t imagine why.

Bill Richardson Packs

According to this article, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has only started hunting recently, with an over under 12 gauge, but he owns other firearms:

Richardson also owns a 9mm semiautomatic pistol, which is not for hunting, but he has a state permit to carry it concealed.

Cool! Personally, I don’t care whether Richardson is a hunter or not, as long as he supports it. The fact that he’s a CCL holder is enough for me.

Note to Democratic leadership: more Democrats like this, please.

Paris Hilton is going back to the pokey, and I at least get some of my faith in the system restored.Â If Ms. Hilton thinks she can’t get a fair shake from the justice system, she should try being poor and black.

City Council Ousts Boy Scouts

I have strong disagreements with the Boy Scouts of America because of their anti-gay policies.Â I think City Council’s decision to give a local Scout Troop the boot because of this is taking opposition a bit too far.

In a 16-1 vote, the council approved a resolution that would terminate the Scoutâ€™s rent-free lease on a building at 22nd and Winter streets. Exactly when the organization would be forced to leave the building remained unclear.

I do hope the Boy Scouts of America will reconsider their position on homosexuality and atheism, even though I fully support their right to exclude people who they don’t feel represent their values.Â I may disagree with the BSA’s position here, but I think it’s wrong to punish local scouts for the actions of the national organization.Â Scouting provides a lot of positive experiences, especially these days when it’s less politically correct to be a boy and act like one.Â I hope City Council will reconsider, and find other ways to persuade the national organization to change its policy.

City Council Fiddles

As I’ve said before, I am not in favor of making abortion illegal, however, it’s good to see that Philadelphia City Council has such a good handle on the cities other problems that it has time to make useless declarations about being a “pro-choice” city.

Pro-choice, that is, if you want to cut a fetus out of your body.Â If you choose to carry a gun for self-protection, that’s a choice, if Philadelphia got its way in Harrisburg, that City Council wouldn’t allow you to make.

Three Republicans and five Democrats voted against the resolution Thursday, including Councilwoman Marian Tasco, an abortion-rights advocate.

“We ought to respect all views and not to label the city one way or the other,” Tasco said.

Kudos to Councilwoman Tasco. Â I feel the same way.Â Even Nutty Nutter agrees with with me here!

Straw Purchases

Red’s blog has a good post up about the difficulties dealers go through in regards to straw purchasing.Â Every time I go to a gun shop with Bitter, I kind of worry that they think it’s a straw purchase setup.Â Of course, neither of us are prohibited persons, but it’s occurred to me that I’ve bought most of my inventory when another person was present.

More on Pennsylvania Reciprocity

Looking over the letter, I think the person may have contacted the incorrect division within the Office of Attorney General, or it was referred to the incorrect division. The division that handles the reciprocity agreements with other states is the Office of Legislative Affairs, and the reply came from The Criminal Prosecution Office. I have worked up a letter to them as well, and will send it along asking for clarification on the previous letter. It’s quite possible the person responding to this letter has little knowledge of the status of our agreements with other states, but nonetheless had to come up with something. We’ll see what kind of answer I get.

New Jersey Blames Pennsylvania’s Weak Laws

No, not for guns, for fireworks:

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) â€” New Jersey wants Pennsylvania to help take the bang out of fireworks, but its wishes may fizzle.

New Jersey is among nine states that bans all consumer fireworks, but residents can easily scoot over a Delaware River bridge to the Keystone State to purchase their Roman candles, bottle rockets sparklers, firecrackers and the like.

Of course, Pennsylvania’s fireworks laws are arcane in their own right, as much of any given firework store’s inventory can only be sold to out of state residents.

So a New Jersey Senate committee on Thursday approved a resolution asking neighboring Pennsylvania to revise its state law to make it illegal to sell consumer fireworks to out-of-state residents.

I would like to propose, in response to New Jersey’s request that we help them outlaw fun, that we make fireworks generally legal in The Commonwealth.Â That’s legislative action I can agree with!

Writing State Police

I’m going to write to the state police public information person about the non-resident reciprocity issue and see what kind of response I get. I’ll post the actual letter as an update a bit later. Unfortunately, the PSP make it rather difficult to contact them by e-mail, so old fashioned snail mail will have to do.

UPDATE: Here’s what I plan to send:

I am writing to obtain some clarification from the Pennsylvania State Police in regards to the attached letter from the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office on whether the Pennsylvania State Police recognize out-of-state licenses to carry firearms by people who do not reside in the states with which we have an agreement.Â For instance whether a resident of Ohio, in possession of a valid license to carry firearms from The State of New Hampshire, would be able to lawfully carry a firearm in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

I represent a blog, with approximately fifteen thousand visits a month, that covers issues of concern to Pennsylvanians involved in the shooting sports and gun rights communities.Â One of my readers brought this issue to my attention, and we would certainly appreciate any clarification the Pennsylvania State Police can offer, in regards to State Police policy, and officer training, on the issue of reciprocity agreements with other states for carrying firearms.

We’ll see how they respond.

More on Non-Resident Reciprocity

From the Pennsylvania State Police Web Site:

Other information included under â€œFirearm Reciprocityâ€ is a list of states that allow any out of state resident with a valid concealed weapons permit from their home state to carry a weapon while in those respective states. These states usually require the individual to have the actual permit and a photo ID on their person while carrying the weapon.Â Note that unless Pennsylvania has a reciprocity agreement with a state, regardless of whether or not their home state recognizes our license/permit, the residents of that state MAY NOT carry a firearm while in Pennsylvania unless they have a current and valid Pennsylvania License to Carry or fall under the exceptions as listed in 18 Pa.C.S. Â§ 6106(2)(b).

Emphasis mine.Â This would indicate that they view only resident licenses as being valid. Â This would be an incorrect view.Â I may try to get some clarification from the State Police themselves.Â Any law enforcement who holds this view would be gravely in error.

Author: Sebastian