Pittsburgh City Council opposes federal bill on concealed handguns

City Council opposes federal bill on concealed handguns
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh City Council today passed a resolution opposing a federal bill that would require states to honor each others' concealed handgun laws.

Pennsylvania already has reciprocity agreements with 25 states that have concealed-handgun laws comparable to its own.

However, Congress is considering legislation that would require all states to recognize each others laws, regardless of how standards differ across the country.

Council's resolution opposes the bill and calls on Pennsylvania's congressional delegation to vote against it.

Council members said laws in some other states are weaker than those in Pennsylvania, meaning the state would be forced to recognize permit-holders who wouldn't qualify for a permit here. They also are concerned the federal bill would undercut states' rights and put police officers at risk.

"It's absolutely absurd that this could become federal law," Councilman Bruce Kraus said.
Joe Smydo: jsmydo@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1548.

First published on October 4, 2011 at 1:23 pm

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11277/1179679-100.stm#ixzz1ZrCzmUgT

Farmer Troy said:

City Council opposes federal bill on concealed handguns
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh City Council today passed a resolution opposing a federal bill that would require states to honor each others' concealed handgun laws.

Pennsylvania already has reciprocity agreements with 25 states that have concealed-handgun laws comparable to its own.

However, Congress is considering legislation that would require all states to recognize each others laws, regardless of how standards differ across the country.

Council's resolution opposes the bill and calls on Pennsylvania's congressional delegation to vote against it.

Council members said laws in some other states are weaker than those in Pennsylvania, meaning the state would be forced to recognize permit-holders who wouldn't qualify for a permit here. They also are concerned the federal bill would undercut states' rights and put police officers at risk.

"It's absolutely absurd that this could become federal law," Councilman Bruce Kraus said.
Joe Smydo: jsmydo@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1548.

First published on October 4, 2011 at 1:23 pm

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11277/1179679-100.stm#ixzz1ZrCzmUgT

Click to expand...

Pennsylvania recognizes my North Dakota non-resident class 2 permit which requires no training and the min age is 18. The only requirement was an open book exam and finger printing. It's not like Pennsylvania is insanely strict like lets say Minnesota.

Farmer Troy said:

City Council opposes federal bill on concealed handguns
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
By Joe Smydo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Pittsburgh City Council today passed a resolution opposing a federal bill that would require states to honor each others' concealed handgun laws.

Pennsylvania already has reciprocity agreements with 25 states that have concealed-handgun laws comparable to its own.

However, Congress is considering legislation that would require all states to recognize each others laws, regardless of how standards differ across the country.

Council's resolution opposes the bill and calls on Pennsylvania's congressional delegation to vote against it.

Council members said laws in some other states are weaker than those in Pennsylvania, meaning the state would be forced to recognize permit-holders who wouldn't qualify for a permit here. They also are concerned the federal bill would undercut states' rights and put police officers at risk.

"It's absolutely absurd that this could become federal law," Councilman Bruce Kraus said.
Joe Smydo: jsmydo@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1548.

First published on October 4, 2011 at 1:23 pm

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11277/1179679-100.stm#ixzz1ZrCzmUgT

Click to expand...

I'm so tired of hearing states rights. The Second Amendment is a right that is bound to the states via the 14 Amendment... therefore, it's NOT a state's rights issue.

Did Pittsburgh make the same argument against LEOSA????? Did Pittsburgh make the same arguement to repeal the NFA and the GCA????

Somehow I don't think they ever will.

To the Pittsburgh Council - but PA probably has the weakest requirements for a license across the nation. So your argument really doesn't hold much water.

knight0334 said:

To the Pittsburgh Council - but PA probably has the weakest requirements for a license across the nation. So your argument really doesn't hold much water.

Click to expand...

Well, no actually, the states that have the weakest requirements for CC permits tend to be the states with the most egregiously restrictive issuance policies.

Maryland, for instance, has NO training requirement and NO range qualification for an "unrestricted" permit. The only real requirements seem to be that you are well-connected, and wealthy. (permits for job-related carry, however, DO have training and range qualification requirements...)

The only difficult requirement to meet in MD to get a permit seems to be that you have to donate at least 5 digits to the governor's re-election campaign, or that you are an elected official who is vehemently anti-2A (like Congresswoman Babs Mikulski, or State Rep Brian Frosh, BOTH of whom have MD permits)

The funny thing is, in the MD General Assembly for the last 3 years, when Reciprocity bills came up in Committee, the MD State Police testified against it, saying that MD's permitting process was SOOOO much more strict and stringent than their neighboring states, and the MSP's investigative process was SOOO much more comprehensive, that they couldn't trust anyone with a permit from VA, WV, PA,or DE do meet MD "requirements" for unrestricted carry--despite the fact that all of their neighboring states have training requirements that FAR exceed MD's, and DESPITE the fact that EVERY single violent crime committed by a person legally permitted to CC in MD in the last 5 years was committed by an LEO, a State's Attorney, or an Officer of the Court...

At least for PA, you have to have proof of some sort of classroom time...

Dreamer said:

At least for PA, you have to have proof of some sort of classroom time...

Click to expand...

Would you care to back up that statement with a cite from Pennsylvania's Uniform Firearms Act?

THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT FOR TRAINING IN ORDER TO GET A PENNSYLVANIA LICENSE TO CARRY FIREARMS !!!

What's most goofy is what is not reported. I.e., that PA law ACCEPTS ALL state permits for purposes of carrying loaded handguns inside vehicles.

Yes, I said ALL.

So all the fdederal bill would do is extend PA car carry law to on foot. But even then, except for Philadelphia, no permit is needed to open carry on foot in PA.

So really, as applied to PA, the federal bill means very little more than the status quo PA law!

For concealed carry on foot, Pennsylvania already recognizes licenses/permits issued by 24 states. Whether they recognize Pennsylvania's LTCF is a separate issue.

With "federal" recognition, the number would double.

Obviously..., Pittsburgh does NOT Understand Pennsylvania Law 18 Pa.C.S. 6120 either.

A Resolution in Conflict with Pennsylvania Law 18 Pa.C.S. 6120, does, in Fact, Violate that Law as well.

More Pittsburgh BS.

How would they feel if we all just OC'ed in the city?
I already do, but if all 'Burgh gun owners did they would really go nuts. lol

They can shove their "opinion" and the 25 cents for 5 minutes at the parking meters!

This city is starting to really bug the hell out of me.