PFSC Spring 2006
Convention
Firearms Committee
Meeting
March 11, 2006
Ramada Inn
The firearms committee met on the above date. The speakers from the Pennsylvania State Police and the NRA were unable to attend. Mr. Protz covered the Pa. State Police report and the NRA report.
Some of the issues we discussed were:
The National “Right to Carry” bill that was recently introduced by Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) H.R. 4547 this bill would allow national reciprocity from state to state much like our drivers licenses do now. This is not a federal licensing system; it would simply require the states to recognize each other’s carry permits.
The “Castle Doctrine” H.B. 2231 which was recently introduced in the Pa. legislature would take away the “duty to retreat”; provide that the person protecting his person or property be held blameless in such cases; and it establishes the presumption that a criminal who forcibly enters or intrudes into your home or occupied vehicle is there to cause death or great bodily harm, thus allowing you to use deadly force against that person. It was strongly suggested that our PFSC members write in support of these bills.
The PICS system was discussed and we were told that in order to have the process completed a street name or road must be in the address for the system to process. This means that a P.O. Box or R. R. only is not valid. This has caused some problems in the recent past.
The next issue that was discussed was a bill that we thought was a done deal. H. B. 2417 this bill concerns revisions to the Protection from Abuse laws; it is now being amended to essentially do away with the protections that we worked hard to include. The biggest one being how and to whom the defendant would have to turn his weapons into if served with a PFA. This bill will be monitored until its plight is known.
There was some discussion on ATF 4473, the form commonly used when a firearm is purchased. Question 11b “Are you under indictment or information in any court for a felony, or any other crime, for which the judge could have imprisoned you for more than one year?” If the answer here is YES, you probably will be denied.
Some tremendous news
out of the Central division, in
Our NSSF
representative alerted us that there will be a “Range Seminar” this
summer. The date is
Lastly, the resolution from Johnstown Rifle and Pistol Club regarding to “right to carry” in our National Parks was unanimously supported by the committee. It was then supported by the delegate session on Sunday.
Submitted by Rocco Ali, Chairman