Second Amendment Rally In Erie, PA

This Saturday June 22, 2013 at 1:00 pm there will be a rally in support of the second amendment. Since the tragedy of Sandy Hook there have been numerous calls for greater gun control. The one thing that many people don't seem to take into account is that these laws will not effect the way in which criminals behave. The real end result is to create a greater pool of victims for criminals. The activist group Open Carry Pennsylvania is conducting this rally and encourages all to attend who support the Right to Keep and Bare Arms.

While Pennsylvania is an open carry state the issue with the rally on Saturday is a city ordinance that prevents the carry of firearms in city parks. Currently Open Carry Pennsylvania founder Justin Dillon is fighting the city based on the state's preemption law. A short blurb reads as follows.

   Section 6120(a) of the Uniform Firearms Act which states: "No ... municipality ... may in any manner regulate the lawful ... possession ... of firearms ... when carried or transported for purposes not prohibited by the laws of this Commonwealth."

While a first line effort to place an injunction against the city ordinance was denied, Mr. Dillon's Lawyer Joshua Prince, Esq. has filed an emergency appeal to a higher court at this time. Currently all supports of the second amendment, and working to repeal this ordinance which by my layman's understanding of the law is illegal under Pennsylvania law. The city ordinance reads as follows.

Hunting and Firearms. No person in a park shall hunt, trap or pursue wild life at 
any time. No person shall use, carry or possess firearms of any descriptions, or air-rifles, spring 
puns, bow and arrows, slings, paint ball weapons or any other forms of weapons potentially 
inimical to wild life and dangerous to human safety, or any instrument that can be loaded with 
and fire blank cartridges, or any kind of trapping device. Shooting into park area from beyond 
park boundaries is forbidden.

Now Erie parks especially the one where the rally is to be held are not known for dense tree cover, or anything more than the required couple of squirrels. Additionally given PA's hunting laws it is illegal to hunt there anyway as it does not meet distance requirements I remember as a young boy. 

Of course no ordinance  or law is complete without a penalty. What is it you ask? Well as printed in an Erie Times article this is the penalty you face for carrying in a park.

Violation of the park-related city ordinance is a summary offense punishable by a fine of $100 to $300 and a maximum prison term of 90 days for failure to pay the fine.

Now let me get this straight, the city expects their citizens to go into the park unarmed. Now if you get attacked I'm guessing they'll expect you to tell the person causing you harm to hold on while you leave the park area so you can retrieve your gun, cause as we all know criminals are so willing to allow you to even the odds or gain the upper hand before they victimize you.

It is time for the people to wake up, take responsibility for their own safety and protect themselves. I know I have and I am willing too if necessary. If some one breaks into my home 911 will be called, but it will be with my phone in one hand and my gun to protect myself, my family, and my home in the other.

Some information taken from the Pennsylvania Firearms Owners Association. Visit them at www.pafoa.org