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Gun legislation

JONATHAN RISKIND Times Leader Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON – A nonprofit anti-gun violence group is targeting Reps. Lou Barletta of Hazleton and Tom Marino of Lycoming Township, both Republicans, for backing legislation passed by the House last month making it easier to cross state borders carrying concealed guns.

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Marino

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Barletta

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The ads also ask Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, and GOP Sen. Pat Toomey of Zionsville to vote against the measure when it comes up in the Senate. The group notes that Casey voted for a similar bill two years ago when it failed in the Senate.

But the group, CeaseFirePA, says the campaign isn’t about partisan politics, pointing out that the ads it has placed in newspapers across the state include ones aimed at several Democrats who voted for the bill, as well, including Rep. Mark Critz, D-Johnstown.

For their part, Barletta and Marino say they have no qualms about having voted for the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act, which gives gun owners who have a concealed carry license from one state the right to arm themselves in any other state that also has a concealed carry law.

“The bill simply requires states to recognize lawfully issued firearms carry permits from other states, the same way they recognize driver’s licenses,” said Renita Fennick, Marino’s spokeswoman. “He will continue to protect individuals’ rights guaranteed under the Constitution to keep and bear arms.”

Shawn Kelly, Barletta’s spokesman, said the ads don’t mention that Pennsylvania already has similar reciprocity agreements with 26 states.

“This vote protects Pennsylvanians’ constitutional rights,” Kelly said. “Crossing state lines should not mean law-abiding Pennsylvanians lose their constitutionally protected right to self defense.”

The House bill passed 272-154, and included the votes of 43 Democrats.

But CeaseFirePA’s ads include the views of former West Goshen Police Chief Mike Carroll, a recent president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

“When the Washington gun lobby told you to ignore our advice and vote for federally mandated national concealed carry, despite the risks, you didn’t hesitate,” Carroll is quoted as saying in the ad. “The bill you voted for poses a significant threat to public safety – and to the officers who defend it.”

Max Nacheman, the head of CeaseFirePA, said his group is anti-gun violence, not anti-gun rights. He said that if a gun owner gets a concealed carry license from a state that has a more lax law than Pennsylvania, that owner should not be able to carry his concealed weapon in Pennsylvania.

“This is a law enforcement issue about how to stop folks who are not allowed to have a gun” in Pennsylvania from being allowed to carry one into the state, Nacheman said.

The ads also ask Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, and GOP Sen. Pat Toomey of Zionsville to vote against the measure when it comes up in the Senate. The group notes that Casey voted for a similar bill two years ago when it failed in the Senate.

The bill again is expected to face an uphill climb in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Casey spokeswoman April Mellody noted the bill hasn’t been taken up yet by the Senate.

“Senator Casey supports the second amendment and he will continue to work with local law enforcement to enforce existing laws and to protect federal support for the COPS hiring program especially in this tough time for local budgets,” Mellody said.