Pennsylvania Federation Of Sportsmens Clubs

Third Annual Right to Keep and Bears Arms Rally at Capitol

April 7, 2008

More than 40 pro-gun state lawmakers join together with hundreds of Pennsylvania sportsmen and firearm owners for the Third Annual Right to Keep and Bears Arms Rally at State Capitol

Featured speakers included: Dr. Alan Keyes, Constitutional scholar, author and Reagan administration Ambassador to the United Nations Economic and Social Council; Larry Pratt, executive director, Gun Owners of America; Alan Gottlieb, chairman, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms; Jeff Knox, director of operations, Firearms Coalition; Kim Stolfer, chairman, Firearms Owners Against Crime; and Melody Zullinger, executive director, PA Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs.

Metcalfe, Keyes and Pratt Read

PA Citizens Their Rights to Keep and Bear Arms

HARRISBURG— Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) today joined with a united coalition consisting of more than 40 pro-gun lawmakers, leading state and national Second Amendment advocates and hundreds of gun owners and outdoorsmen in the state Capitol Rotunda for the Third Annual Right to Keep and Bear Arms Rally.

“As citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania we do not need the U.S. Supreme Court, the United Nations or even the governor to reaffirm our God-given rights to defend our lives, loved ones and property,” said Metcalfe, whose legislation to provide potential victims of domestic abuse with an emergency license to carry a firearm was approved by the Pennsylvania House last Tuesday as an amendment to House Bill 1845.

Under Metcalfe’s legislation (House Bill 1160), any individual who can demonstrate evidence of imminent danger to themselves or a member of their family would be entitled to a temporary emergency license to carry a firearm after passing a computerized background check of criminal history, juvenile delinquency and mental health records. The temporary license would be good for 90 days to allow sufficient time to apply for a regular license to carry a firearm and undergo the potential 45-day waiting period for a license to carry under current state law.

“Pennsylvania, birthplace of the Declaration of Independence, America’s first major tax revolts, and the world’s first working oil well, also has a legitimate claim to fame as the birthplace of the Second Amendment,” said Metcalfe. “‘The right of citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state shall not be questioned.’ Ratified on September 28, 1776, Article 1, Section 21 secured Pennsylvania’s legacy as the first state to adopt explicit language in our constitution affirming that private citizens have a right to bear arms. This straightforward language, which was duplicated in the bill of rights of several other state constitutions, also provided a solid foundational blueprint for the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution.”

In addition to Metcalfe, other featured speakers at today’s rally included Dr. Alan Keyes, constitutional scholar, author and Reagan administration ambassador to the United Nations Economic and Social Council; Larry Pratt, executive director, Gun Owners of America; Alan Gottlieb, chairman, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms; Jeff Knox, director of operations, Firearms Coalition; Kim Stolfer, chairman, Firearms Owners Against Crime; Melody Zullinger, executive director, PA Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, and Jon Mirrowitz, Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania.

“Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin and the rest of Pennsylvania’s founding fathers had the common sense and enduring faith in personal responsibility and self government to recognize two undisputable truths that have been proven time and time again in such human life-sparing landmarks as Colorado Springs, Colorado; Pearl, Mississippi; Springfield, Oregon; Appalachia, Virginia; and even closer to home in Edinboro, Erie County,” said Metcalfe.

“First, a truly safe and liberty-advancing society is an armed society. Second, citizens legally and freely executing their constitutional right to keep and bear arms is one of the most effective deterrents against violent criminals, or even worse, government tyranny. All of which brings us back to the no-nonsense, original intent behind Article 1, Section 21 of the Pennsylvania Constitution: ‘The right of citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state shall not be questioned,’ he added.”

Additional Second Amendment advocacy and sportsmen’s organizations represented at today’s rally included: Allegheny County Sportsmen’s League, CCRKBA, GunWeek, Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, Law Enforcement Alliance of America, Lehigh Valley Firearms Coalition, Mothers Arms - Safely in Mothers Arms Inc., National Rifle Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, PA Firearms Owners Association, PA Gun Collectors Association, PA Gun Owners Association, PA Rifle and Pistol Association, PA Sportsmen’s Association, Pink Pistols, the Second Amendment Sisters and Unified Sportsmen of PA.

“Every law-abiding gun owner who has made the time to travel to Harrisburg today has done their part in reminding Governor Rendell and the rest of his gun-grabbing conspirators in the Pennsylvania General Assembly that we will never be silent, inactive bystanders when our heritage and most cherished personal liberties are under attack,” said Metcalfe. “Just like Benjamin Franklin and the rest of our Founding Fathers, we must remain organized, proactive and ever vigilant to Keep Second Amendment Liberty in Pennsylvania, Second to None.”

For the latest Second Amendment legislative updates or to sign the “No New Gun Controls” petition, visit RepMetcalfe.com.

View Rally Press Packet

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THIRD ANNUAL RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS RALLY HELD IN CAPITOL ROTUNDA

By Rick Morrison, PA Legislative Services

4-7-08

More than 40 legislators, several national Second Amendment advocates, representatives of various sportsmen’s groups and a large contingent of gun owners gathered in support of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in the state Capitol Rotunda today.

Led by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler), the united coalition first observed a moment of silence in honor of the late actor Charlton Heston, who passed away over the weekend and was a staunch defender of gun owners’ rights.

“The United States Supreme Court appears to be well on its way to properly interpreting the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution,” Rep. Metcalfe said in reference to a case before the court. “Today I’m here to make the case that the citizens of the Commonwealth do not need the U.S. Supreme Court, the United Nations or even the governor to reaffirm our God-given rights - our God-given rights to defend our life, our loved ones and our property. Just like so many other monumental events in American history, when it comes to guaranteeing the right to keep and bear arms, the Keystone State sets the standard for the rest of the nation to follow.”

“Pennsylvania, birthplace of the Declaration of Independence, America’s first major tax revolts and the world’s first working oil well, also has a legitimate claim to fame as the birthplace of the Second Amendment,” Rep. Metcalfe continued. “Citizens legally and freely executing their Constitutional rights to keep and bear arms, is one of the most effective deterrents against violent criminals, or even worse, government tyranny.”

“Just like Benjamin Franklin and the rest of our founding fathers, we must remain organized, pro-active and ever vigilant to keep Second Amendment liberties in Pennsylvania second to none,” the Republican lawmaker added.

Rep. Metcalfe introduced Dr. Alan Keyes, constitutional scholar, author, former presidential candidate and Reagan administration ambassador to the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Keyes explained he stood before the crowd to “…speak in defense of the preservation of human life.” He said that while anti-gun advocates speak in defense of human life, “…what they have forgotten is one of the harsh realities of our human experience…is that you cannot defend life if you give up the means of that defense.”

Keyes asserted that gun owners not only have a right to their guns, but they have an obligation to defend the right as well as their home and property. He said with the right of the people to govern themselves and stand in defense of their lives and property, they could advance the cause of self-government. He added that the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 indicated the lack of ability of government to protect the people at all levels. Keyes said that event demonstrated the need for people to be able to defend themselves “…against a determined enemy.”

In regard to those who advocate for gun control and say it will reduce violence, Keyes said there are those who try to portray guns as having a soul or a conscience of their own. “Violence does not begin in the weapon, it does not begin in the gun, it begins in the human heart. The law of peace and security does not begin when the weapon goes off, it begins when indiscipline and irresponsibility enter into the spirit of a people and deprives them of the capacity to look upon that instrument without fear and with a sense of responsible obligation. At the end of the day, the greatest danger represented by the gun banners isn’t just that they’re going to take the physical means out of our hands, it’s that they are campaigning every day to reintroduce the fear of the instrument of our self-defense.”

Larry Pratt, President of the Gun Owners of America, questioned the notion that a gun owner should be punished if a gun is lost or stolen. He commented that “many of those who had that idea could find someone else to punish, maybe even the criminals.” He said the issue surrounding the Second Amendment is “Do we continue to understand and appreciate and even advocate for popular sovereignty? This is not something that is academic. A tangible emblem of our freedom is our firearms.”

He commented that the Swiss have a citizen army, similar to what the militia embodied throughout Colonial America. Pratt said for the Swiss, “A gun is an emblem of a free man. They get it. We’re going to get it again, but we’re not going to get it through zero tolerance, that’s for sure.”

Rep. Marc Gergely (D-Allegheny) thanked all those in attendance and reminded them to continue working for their rights to keep and bear arms, to defeat the opposition and to contact their legislators and let them know their opinions.

Alan Gottleib, Chairman, Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, traveled from Seattle, Washington, to address the crowd. He noted that his organization has been involved in efforts to defeat bans on firearms in New Orleans, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. He added that he will continue to be engaged in similar efforts and to work against waiting periods in New York City, Chicago and elsewhere. Gottleib noted that he recently returned from a conference in Nuremburg, Germany, where he began working with gun ownership rights advocates from other countries against United Nations’ sanctions that threaten gun ownership in the United States and other countries.

Rep. Russ Fairchild (R-Union) mentioned that it is important to remember historically there were soldiers who fought with their own guns in the Battle of Gettysburg in the Civil War. He applauded the vote in the House of Representatives last week against an amendment that would have punished those who lost their gun or had it stolen.

Jeff Knox, Director of Operations of the Firearms Coalition, said “…the press tries to paint the gun lobby as a small group of stuffed shirts with a lot of money in Washington, D.C. The gun lobby is millions of people like you who take a day off and come down to meet eye to eye with their representatives,” he told the crowd. Knox also told the gun ownership supporters to visit their representatives in the Legislature and tell them how strongly they feel about their rights. He told them they have power to express themselves in the upcoming primary election by voting for those who support their right to keep and bear arms.

Melody Zullinger, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, spoke of "what an honor it was to be standing with such a distinguished group of 2nd Amendment supporters. She thanked everyone for coming and said “We don’t offer a free bus ride and a free lunch voucher or a day of paid vacation, but we can still fill these halls like other groups. Keep the pressure on and keep sending those emails, because we, are the people.”

Jon Mirowitz, an attorney from Philadelphia and Executive Director of the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania, implored those gathered to get active in voter registration efforts for the November election. He told the crowd that each person should make an effort to sign up at least four voters when the voter registration period reopens on April 23, after the upcoming primary election. He also urged everyone to vote in the election in November. He commented that, “You should not be able to win a statewide race in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania if you are running anti-gun.”

Kim Stolfer, Chairman of Firearms Owners Against Crime, said that men and women in America’s military services are fighting overseas to protect the very right that was under attack in last week in the House of Representatives. “The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men do nothing,” Stolfer added. “Well, last week, we did something. We indicated our interest and fought tooth and nail to stop an attack on your rights and for that I thank you.” He urged those assembled to do more to fight crime, and not to ask what additional freedoms would have to be given up, but what more can be done to defeat it. “We’re not responsible for it (crime) and we won’t bear the brunt of it.” Stolfer concluded.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08099/871342-178.stm

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http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/state/all-a9_guncontrol.6349296apr08,0,7175819.story