RSS
Meehan votes in favor of national concealed carry gun bill
U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan, R-7, of Upper Darby, voted in favor of the national concealed weapons bill Wednesday.
Law enforcement officials, including the Delaware County Police Chiefs Association, expressed opposition to the bill earlier this week.
When asked why Meehan voted the way he did, his spokeswoman, Maureen Keith, released the following statement on behalf of her boss Thursday:
"Crossing state lines does not mean law-abiding Pennsylvanians lose their constitutionally protected right to self-defense," Meehan said. "This bill simply requires states that issue carry permits – and only states that issue permits – to their own residents have to honor the permits of other states, much like driver’s licenses. Law-abiding Pennsylvanians should not be prosecuted for exercising their constitutional right to self-defense in another state.”
Keith pointed out that Pennsylvania already has reciprocity agreements for the concealed carry of firearms with 26 other states. She argued that most states have permitting eligibility rules that are equal to Pennsylvania’s or more restrictive.
“What the bill does do is protect the rights of Pennsylvanians with a valid permit to defend themselves in another state,” Meehan said.
While the bill had the backing of the National Rifle Association, groups that advocate for handgun control, like CeaseFirePA, blasted the bill.
"We are extremely disappointed that Congressman Meehan ignored the overwhelming opposition to this bill by local law enforcement, and in doing so, chose to put politics over public safety," said Max Nacheman, director of CeaseFirePA. "Congressman Meehan has set a dangerous precedent of trampling states' rights to do the bidding of a narrow special interest group."
The bill was passed in 272-154, with only seven Republicans voting against it and 43 Democrats supporting it. You can check out who else voted in favor of this measure here.
Here is the full story in Friday's paper with Meehan's explanation on his vote.
***
As a resident of Delco, what do you think about this bill?
Law enforcement officials, including the Delaware County Police Chiefs Association, expressed opposition to the bill earlier this week.
When asked why Meehan voted the way he did, his spokeswoman, Maureen Keith, released the following statement on behalf of her boss Thursday:
"Crossing state lines does not mean law-abiding Pennsylvanians lose their constitutionally protected right to self-defense," Meehan said. "This bill simply requires states that issue carry permits – and only states that issue permits – to their own residents have to honor the permits of other states, much like driver’s licenses. Law-abiding Pennsylvanians should not be prosecuted for exercising their constitutional right to self-defense in another state.”
Keith pointed out that Pennsylvania already has reciprocity agreements for the concealed carry of firearms with 26 other states. She argued that most states have permitting eligibility rules that are equal to Pennsylvania’s or more restrictive.
“What the bill does do is protect the rights of Pennsylvanians with a valid permit to defend themselves in another state,” Meehan said.
While the bill had the backing of the National Rifle Association, groups that advocate for handgun control, like CeaseFirePA, blasted the bill.
"We are extremely disappointed that Congressman Meehan ignored the overwhelming opposition to this bill by local law enforcement, and in doing so, chose to put politics over public safety," said Max Nacheman, director of CeaseFirePA. "Congressman Meehan has set a dangerous precedent of trampling states' rights to do the bidding of a narrow special interest group."
The bill was passed in 272-154, with only seven Republicans voting against it and 43 Democrats supporting it. You can check out who else voted in favor of this measure here.
Here is the full story in Friday's paper with Meehan's explanation on his vote.
***
As a resident of Delco, what do you think about this bill?
posted by Danielle Lynch at
8:35 AM
4 Comments:
I thank the Congressman for seeing through the lies and voting for this common sense bill!
I have had a license to Carry Firearms license for over 30+ years. I can legally carry in 40 States, with the mix of licenses I currently have.(Utah, Florida and Pennsylvania) It is upsetting that Ceasefire takes a position that would make it seem that somehow I should not be able to travel in those other 9 States, minus Illinois, because somehow I would be a danger is ludicrous.
I am a law abiding citizen of this great country, and a danger to no one. As a free citizen, why should my licenses, which I have been photographed, fingerprinted and trained on, not be acceptable in New Jersey? Please explain that to me. State rights do not trump God given rights!
Dannytheman, thank you for weighing in on this issue.
Happy to Danielle!! Always available for Guns, Motorcycles and Rock and Roll stories!
Great! Feel free to shoot me an email with your contact info. Maybe we can chat sometime down the line (i.e. when this issue comes up again in the Senate). My email is dlynch@delcotimes.com.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home