Mike
Site Co-Founder
imported post
http://www.timesleader.com/scrantonedition/news/New_Lackawanna_county_park_rules_questioned_06-13-2010.html
SNIP
New Lackawanna county park rules questioned
Olyphant resident challenges legality of firearms clause.
By Rich Howells rhowells@scrantonedition.com
Reporter/Photographer
SCRANTON – An area resident questioned the legality of a firearms clause in Lackawanna County commissioners’ new list of public park rules and regulations that it unanimously passed at its previous meeting.
Keith MacDonald of Olyphant approached the commissioners at the end of the meeting and claimed that all firearms are technically “unlicensed” in Pennsylvania and that prohibiting people from openly carrying a firearm is a violation of the Uniform Firearms Act of Pennsylvania.
Section 11 of the new park rules states: “No person shall discharge or propel across, in, or into any park area, a firearm…No unlicensed firearms or weapons are allowed in a Park without the written permission of the Director.”
“This is one thing that, I think, was carefully crafted to ensure that it didn’t violate the law,” responded Commissioner Corey O’Brien to MacDonald.
County solicitor John O’Brien agreed with the commissioner and defended the firearms clause.
. . .
“It doesn’t say ‘illegal.’ It says ‘unlicensed,’” MacDonald questioned.
“I think you’re wrong to say that there isn’t some form of permit or license required for you to carry a handgun. That’s what the sheriff’s office and that’s what the state department and attorney general’s office thinks. Our intent is at no time to further regulate gun laws,” John O’Brien continued.
The laws, written by the Parks and Recreation Department, affect McDade Park, Merli-Sarnoski Park, Aylesworth Park and Covington Park as well as the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour and the Anthracite Heritage Museum.
http://www.timesleader.com/scrantonedition/news/New_Lackawanna_county_park_rules_questioned_06-13-2010.html
SNIP
New Lackawanna county park rules questioned
Olyphant resident challenges legality of firearms clause.
By Rich Howells rhowells@scrantonedition.com
Reporter/Photographer
SCRANTON – An area resident questioned the legality of a firearms clause in Lackawanna County commissioners’ new list of public park rules and regulations that it unanimously passed at its previous meeting.
Keith MacDonald of Olyphant approached the commissioners at the end of the meeting and claimed that all firearms are technically “unlicensed” in Pennsylvania and that prohibiting people from openly carrying a firearm is a violation of the Uniform Firearms Act of Pennsylvania.
Section 11 of the new park rules states: “No person shall discharge or propel across, in, or into any park area, a firearm…No unlicensed firearms or weapons are allowed in a Park without the written permission of the Director.”
“This is one thing that, I think, was carefully crafted to ensure that it didn’t violate the law,” responded Commissioner Corey O’Brien to MacDonald.
County solicitor John O’Brien agreed with the commissioner and defended the firearms clause.
. . .
“It doesn’t say ‘illegal.’ It says ‘unlicensed,’” MacDonald questioned.
“I think you’re wrong to say that there isn’t some form of permit or license required for you to carry a handgun. That’s what the sheriff’s office and that’s what the state department and attorney general’s office thinks. Our intent is at no time to further regulate gun laws,” John O’Brien continued.
The laws, written by the Parks and Recreation Department, affect McDade Park, Merli-Sarnoski Park, Aylesworth Park and Covington Park as well as the Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour and the Anthracite Heritage Museum.
