Pennsylvania – Page 46 – Shall Not Be Questioned

Update on Public Range Killing

It’s pretty certain at this point it was a robbery. The autopsy has determined he was killed from a distance. So someone out there is shooting people on public ranges to steal their guns. Authorities are looking for the following firearm:

Police are still looking for the shooter.Â Meantime they’re asking firearms dealers to check their inventory to see if they may have a custom built AR-15 type semi-automatic rifle with a Lewis Machine Company model Defender 2000 lower receiver equipped with a 30 HRT upper receiver and a Yankee Hill Machine Company Phantom model 308 caliber silencer.

Nice rifle, but killing someone for it? That person needs to be found. If you go to a PA public range, go with a spotter buddy. This guy who did this is dangerous as hell, and it would be a shame for the state to have to waste taxpayer dollars on him. Let’s hope this is an isolated incident.

Public Shooting Range Incident

Funny, I was just talking about this topic, but a person was found dead at one of the PA Game Commission public ranges in Cumberland County. Of course, there’s a great irony in this:

The man killed at a Cumberland County gun range Wednesday was a personal injury lawyer.

At first I thought it wasÂ one of the Cletii that Tam mentioned probably did him, and decided fleeing was the wise, if not ethical move. But other stories are calling it aÂ homicide, since it’s unlikely he was shot accidentally multiple times. My guess would be robbery was the motive, since it would seem guns were missing. From yet another article:

Freed also said there was another crime on this rifle range earlier this month when a gun was stolen.

“Anybody who is going out to a gun range needs to take extra care cause we at least know that there’s somebody out there who was willing to steal a gun, and apparently somebody out there who was willing to shoot somebody today,” Freed said.

“Whether those acts are related, i can’t say, but it certainly is reason to take extra care,” he added.

It’s quite possible someone who has no regard for human life figures there’s not much risk on shooting a lone person out in the middle of nowhere to steal his firearms. Not much of a chance of getting caught. Be careful out there.

Corbett Sympathetic to Free Market Wine and Liquor

Saying selling off the state liquor monopoly must be on the table has endeared us to Tom Corbett on one other issue. Bitter outlines some of the reasons why on price, noting that Hawaii’s generally expensive nature doesn’t translate to liquor prices due to their free market system. She also notes that people that have tried the PALCB’s ridiculous wine kiosk system won’t be trying it again. It’s a system only a bureaucrat would love.

Pennsylvanians are tired of having to go out of state to find a reasonable wine and liquor selection. The time toÂ privatizeÂ the state liquor monopoly is now. Corbett isn’t the firstÂ gubernatorialÂ candidate in Pennsylvania to promise it, but hopefully he can be the first to deliver.

Jim Geraghty looks at GOP Fundraising

There’s some good, but he notes that in some of our key races, they are coming up short. Let me highlight the PA candidates:

Mike Kelly looks like he has the skills to be a strong challenger inPennsylvaniaâ€™s 3rd District. Itâ€™s not a terribly expensive district, but a10-to-1 cash-on-hand advantage for incumbent Kathy Dahlkemper is ominous.

In the neighboring 4th District, Jason Altmire is on everybodyâ€™s list of vulnerable Democrats to watch, but GOP challengerÂ Keith Rofkus has to make up aÂ 7-to-1 cash-on-hand disadvantage.

InÂ Pennsylvaniaâ€™s 8th District, I have little doubt thatÂ Mike Fitzpatrickwill give incumbent Democrat Patrick Murphy a toughÂ challenge, but heâ€™s still looking at aÂ 3-to-1 cash-on-hand disadvantage.

And in the 10th District,Â Tom Marino has onlyÂ about $11,000 on hand, going up against Chris Carney, another incumbent who looks beatable under the right circumstances.

I don’t think money is going to be as important in this election, since the Democrats are doing a bang up job of destroying their brand among likely voters without the GOP having to spend a dime. But the role of money in elections still can’t be discounted. If Altmire holds on to his seat, I won’t be that disaffected, since Altmire has stood up to Pelosi and the White House and voted like a true Blue Dog.

Murphy, on the other hand, might wear the Blue Dog label, but he is no blue dog. But he is anÂ excellentÂ fundraiser, much of it coming from outside the district. Fitz has an uphill battle, since he not only has to overcome Murphy’s cash advantage, but has to overcome a Democratic registration edge in his district. This is a critical election for the 8th District, since if we can’t remove Murphy now, he’ll be dug in like a tick, and will be impossible to remove with the advantage of incumbency.

Next time …

… these folks might want to think about getting a dog instead.

Why We Won’t Negotiate

Joe Grace laments that Pennsylvania doesn’t have true gun registration, and notes about Lost and Stolen, the current law CeaseFire PA is pushing:

“Will it solve the problem?” Grace said. “No, but it is a step in the right direction.”

That right there is why we won’t give an inch. He really wants a mile. If he had to take it an inch at a time, that’s fine by him. The Brady Act was considered reasonable by many gun owners as well, and was quickly followed up with Brady II. Fortunately gun owners helped vote that Congress out before it could go anywhere. Dan Onorato seems like Joe Grace’s best buddy, in terms of supporting his agenda, and I’ve been less than impressed with what we’ve been able to accomplish in the PA House with the Democrats running things. If we don’t teach them a lesson this fall, the lesson is going to be that being in favor of gun control Pennsylvania doesn’t hurt you.

Gun License Fees in Bucks and Montgomery Counties

Some are upset at the $46 dollar fee our sheriff charges. Apparently they still offer the state standard license, for the state fixed price:

Both Donnelly and Ricci said they give residents the option of paying $25 for a paper license, but applicants must provide their own photographs if they choose the cheaper option.

“If you want to upgrade that license we provide another service,” Ricci said. “If you want a plastic one that looks like a driver’s license, you pay $46.”

I should note that if the end result of this is that we all have to go back to the big paper licenses, I’m going to be pissed. I’m happy to pay extra for the credit card sized plastic license. I do believe the Sheriffs need to make it clear the paper license is available, and make sure everyone knows that. They do mention it on their web site, but it seems that the satellite offices are unaware.

Attacking Reciprocity – Again

The anti-gunners here don’t want to lose a battle, so they just keep delaying votes on bills. By not formally taking a vote, the bill stays alive. If it has a formal vote and they lose – even by the slimmest of margins – it’s done. I guess they are taking their lessons from New Jersey.

That said, fall is a dangerous time to have this come up. I would assume if the Pennsylvania legislature operates anything like our neighbors to the east, there’s a possibility for lame duck sessions. (This is my first full session living here, so don’t get angry if I’m wrong.) That’s always when lawmakers who have been booted out like to send one last “screw you” vote to their constituents. It’s one reason why we need to make sure that the pro-gun forces at all levels – federal and state – stay in office to help keep gun control off the table during those times.

Waste of Taxpayer Dollars

Capitol Ideas is reporting on items in the state budget, namely about 30 million dollars of state funds going to create libraries for Arlen Specter, and a Center for Public Policy named after John Murtha. Yeah, maybe I’m crazy, but I tend to think education and parks ought to be a higher spending priority than Specter and Murtha’s legacy. Though, given what porkers they both were, perhaps this is fitting.

Castle Doctrine Dead

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review is noting H.B. 40’s lack of movement. It still has to get through the appropriations committee before hitting the House Floor, where it clearly has enough votes to pass. The head of appropriations is Dwight Evans. Given that I’d say it’s probably safe to say it’s not getting a floor vote. This is one area I’ll be partisan with. We have to kick the Democrats out in November if we want to move any pro-gun bills through the Pennsylvania legislature. The cost of Castle Doctrine seems to have been all those anti-gun bills, but also the Lentz bill, which seems to be a high price for a bill that isn’t going to clear appropriations, in all likelihood.