Council passes controversial bill on stolen guns
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh City Council gave its first approval today to legislation requiring that anyone report a lost or stolen firearm report that within 24 hours or potentially face a $500 fine.
The 6-1 vote, with two abstentions, sets up a final vote likely next week, which would send the legislation to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl for his signature or veto, and then potentially to the courts, where similar measures have been challenged.
“Who really cares about it being unconstitutional?” said Councilwoman Tonya Payne, a supporter. “This is what’s right to do, and if this means that we have to go out and have a court battle, then that’s fine … We have plenty of dead bodies coming up in our streets every single day, and that is unacceptable.”
The lone no vote was by Councilman Ricky Burgess, who argued that it would be a “false cure” that would be “particularly cruel” to his violence-plagued northeastern Pittsburgh district.
“This legislation will not strike a blow to straw purchasers,” he said. “This ordinance will not be enforced, no loopholes will be closed and no lives will be saved, because no municipality can legally regulate firearms of any kind, at any time, for any reason.”
Advocates appearing before council today argued that people called straw purchasers frequently buy guns, then sell them to criminals who could not pass the required background checks. When the guns are used in crimes and traced back to the straw purchaser, he or she just claims the weapon was lost or stolen. Unless that can be disproved, the straw purchaser is off the hook.
“It’s a loophole that allows illegal gun traffickers to simply state that a weapon was stolen,” said Councilman William Peduto, one of three authors of the bill along with Council President Doug Shields and Councilman Bruce Kraus.
Councilmen Dan Deasy and Patrick Dowd abstained.
Mr. Dowd said that in passing the measure council is “not really effectively changing the situation on the ground,” and is inviting a lawsuit.
Philadelphia has sought to enforce similar legislation, but the effort has been tied up in litigation. Legally, the question is whether the state ban on local laws on “the transfer, ownership, transportation or possession” of guns extends to the reporting of lost or stolen firearms.
The Commonwealth Court threw out Philadelphia’s measure, and other gun control rules there. The matter is heading for the state Supreme Court.
Wild Thing’s comment…….
So to this woman Tonya Payne says the Constitution doesn’t matter, if it stands in the way of the socialist agenda. Here is a title for this idiot, domestic enemy of the state Tonya Payne. And she IS a domestic enemy and should be treated as such.
Wear it, own it and never forget it Payne the pian!! Liberals sure are tryants!!
She sure looks a lot like Cynthia McKinney, another Obama brain nut case.
What is truly amazing about ‘ends justifies the means’ liberals is that IT NEVER DOES! She’s willing to ignore the constitution for something that isn’t even going to do what she hopes it will! She really believes that this is going to somehow end: “plenty of dead bodies coming up in our streets every single day, and that is unacceptable.” The two things have nothing to do with each other; this legislation is not going to stop dead bodies coming up in our streets! The Loon’s premise is flawed. She’s willing to throw the constitution out for some pie in the sky wishing game. Every last liberal is an idiot.
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……Thank you RAC for sending this to me.
RAC has a website that is awesome. 336th Assault Helicopter Company
13th Combat Aviation Battalion – 1st Aviation Brigade – Soc Trang, Republic of Vietnam
I have a feeling we’re going to hear more and more of this sort of thing now that the Saul Alinsky Community Organizer has been elected to King and what with the Terrible Three holding court in the Capitol. Our Constitution is in a precarious state and will take a good battering by the Democrats who believe that it is a living document that can be bent and twisted to serve their agenda. Which is not in our country’s best interests. They have been champing at the bit to change this country from a Republic to a Socialized Democracy for over 50 years. We are going to have to be extra vigilant and very active in our opposition to any and all moves by the Dems to alter the Constitution.
Be sure you have all your IRS tax forms in order because I also have a feeling that there will be many more Joe the Plumber cases coming up on people who take action against the One and his Court.
JUST ANOTHER OBAMA VOTER
The Constitution doesn’t matter. Then I say to hell with 13, 14 and 15 the amendments. If she can so blatantly throw out the right to bear arms where does that leave the slavery Amendments, in the same place as the 2nd, in the dumpster.
Who cares about the Constitution, well she as a black woman should care an awful lot but like the rest of these racist biggots all they care about is that welfare check arriving on time.
With the Birth certificate qualification of Obama looming, and she obviously knows all about obama being born in Kenya, it would make perfect sense why she doesn’t care about the Constitution.
I would guess that Councilwoman Payne most likely comes from a majority Black district. I would bet that the crime rate in that district is proportionately higher than most other districts. I would bet that Obama carried roughly 96% of the votes in that district. I would bet that the district lives in a virtual state of anarchy due to the crime.
Payne and Obama like certain parts of The Constitution. The parts that give freedoms and rights. They don’t like the parts that limit government powers or require individual responsibilities.
Instead of her “community” taking individual and collective responsibility for reducing the crime rate, Councilwoman Payne and other liberal politicians want to put government limits on all Americans. They want more power for government as though that will reduce crime in those areas that have become dysfunctional, in some part due to government welfare programs.
This is what happens when you OD on Obama Kool-Aid. Obamamania run amok!
Exile this POS to Kenya, she might fit in with B. Hussein’s family tree. If the Constitution doesn’t matter then no rule of law in these United States does. She is a piece of trash living off of the taxpayer dole feeding out of the public trough. If B. Hussein’s comment saying lipstick on a pig fits anyone it is her.
Yankeemom, I agree so much. I think too we will see this more and more and no one will speak up against them that has a voice.
The other day on TV on one of the political shows a Sen. was slamming the Rep. admin. and no one spoke up. It is one thing if it had been the truth, but the person doing the slamming was just saying lies. I would love to have been there to at least corret them on the air. That would have felt so good.
I agree too about making sure i’s are dotted and t’s crossed. Obama will go after people that disagree with him or point things out about him.
DaveH, yes she is one of his sheep.
Mark, AMEN, for an elected official to say such a thing, imo she should be arrested or punished or darn it anyway something.
I truly can’t stand this!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom, exactly, and that is so crazy how they think.
Les, good one. haha and true too.
“This is what happens when you OD on Obama Kool-Aid. Obamamania run amok!”
Bob A., what a GREAT idea, I am all for that.
Hey, Stupid Lady, I care!!! The constitution is NOT a play toy or to be meddled with when it’s convenient for you. The Constitution holds our Bill of Rights, including Freedom of Speech to say such awful things and not go to prison for it. What if we took that away? That was the most unforgivable thing you uttered and I hope that you realize how many people you can hurt when you open your mouth and insert your size 12 wide width shoe in it. I’ll go for Freedom to know what I’m getting, including the “real” Obamammy birth certificate!!!!! It almost sounds like you want slavery back only with the whites being slaves to your big old hypocritical butt!!!!! (I’ll bet you go to church too, don’t you?)