An arbitrary gun law passed in Harrisburg

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JeffDilla

JeffDilla

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I can't see this will holding up in any court considering PA's preemption laws. If I remember correctly, there are at least two other cities in PA that passed similar laws (Allentown and Philly, perhaps) and are in the process of fighting it via the courts.
 
As an aside to show just how dumb this law really is, I lived in Bethlehem/Hellertown for 5 years while attending school and never knew such a law was passed in neighboring Allentown, and I am an avid follower of firearm related legislation. I can only imagine the same is true for thousands of other gun owners across the state in these cities who don't really follow most of these issues. While ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse, there will be way too many people that simply do not know the law (or that ignore it) for it to be effective in any way. Of course, I'd also argue that would be completely ineffective even if everyone who had a gun stolen reported it as such.
 
I have 2 questions pertaining to this type of law.

1-What good is this law suppose to do?

2-With exception of the fine, what is wrong about having a law like this?

I don't agree with the chance of being fined (or jailtime), I mean you were already a victim once. But I don't have a problem with reporting stolen property. It would mean a chance (although slight) to get your property back.

But it would cut down on boating accidents.:neener:

Wyman
 
With exception of the fine, what is wrong about having a law like this?
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The first part of your query answers the second part.

Why should I be fined for not reporting something within a specified period of time? Maybe it is taking me a few days to be certain I didn't leave it somewhere else.
 
Supporters say the proposal is to help police prevent a lost or stolen gun from being resold to be used in a crime.
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How is knowing a gun is stolen going to prevent another crime? 99% of the time if they find a gun on a suspect he is already a felon and can't have posession anyway and the gun is confiscated. Call me paranoid but I see this as another way of identifying yourself to the gubmint as a gunowner.

Another thing. How many laws require us to report anything?
Income is the only one I can think of.
Not even traffic accidents, even if you're involved. Someone else can do that. You just can't leave the scene.
 
State Law in Connecticut

Public Act 07-163 requires the lawful owners of any firearm, instead of just assault weapons, stolen from them to file a police report within 72 hours after they discover or should have discovered the theft. It also requires them to report any lost firearm, including an assault weapon, within the same deadlines.
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What good will it do?

My guess it is for owner identification of guns used in crimes and to avoid the statement to police, "I lost it last week or it was stolen", when they do recover a gun at a crime scene. If it was not reported stolen, then you have some explaining to do.

They already have a law in PA which requires most handgun transfers to go though a FFL and a NICs check done.

But it does nothing to stop the crime from being committed. I had a Glock stolen once. I decided to report the theft as there was quite a lot of stuff stolen from my vehicle valued in the $2-3K area. I had been out of town working, doing Christmas shopping, and had just returned. I reported the gun stolen not so much to recover it but to possibly identify the thief if they sold it at a pawn shop or used it in a crime. I never turned any of this into insurance. I just don't believe in using insurance for day to day stuff.

As far as discovering a theft, I can tell you that I could loose half my guns and not realize it for weeks and perhaps years on an individual piece. I just don't look at the ones I don't shoot that much.

A while back I was looking for a 22 rifle that I own. I looked everywhere in my house. Came to the conclusion that it was either stolen or I lost it somehow (which is crazy, I don't loose guns.) But in a way I did.... turns out I still had it at my fathers house and it had been there for about 20 years. For a while I was on the road a lot and didn't even have an apartment. I stored my firearms at my father's house, but I thought I had retrieved all of them. I had not.
 
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Lancaster PA also...

City of Lancaster also recently passed a similar ordinance. They also passed an ordinance...get this... that makes it ILLEGAL to discharge a firearm within the city limits. There are no exemptions for self defense, accidental/negligent discharge. It is also punishable by a mandatory jail sentence of 30 days, PER ROUND, and the sentences are required by the ordinance to be consective, that is one after the other.

So, crack 3 rounds at that would be armed robber, and you could face 90 days in jail. It was passed to combat idiots shooting into the air. Nevermind they are routinely charged with Recklessly Endangering Another Person, a pretty severe Misdeneanor in PA.

It was challenged in the Court of Common Pleas (County Court) and found to be Constitutional, and I believe is on appeal to the Commonwealth Court. We'll see...
 
The first part of your query answers the second part.

Why should I be fined for not reporting something within a specified period of time? Maybe it is taking me a few days to be certain I didn't leave it somewhere else.
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Because doing nothing should not be a crime!

What other crimes are we going to criminalize the victim for not reporting?

date rape? Hey, the way date rapists are convicted is generally due to repeated complaints against that same guy. Lets throw regular rape in there too. Who cares if a woman is suffering emotional trauma, lets get the crime reported so other women don't get raped.

If you are raped you have 48 hours to report it or YOU will go to jail!

Same with someone stealing your money, they could use it to buy drugs or equipment for terrorists! Oh no! You have 48 hours to report it or you go to jail!

That $100 bill you keep under the clock on the fireplace mantle for 'just incase'? Well, your teenage daughter's boyfriend swiped it about six months ago. Say hello to a serving a few days doing county clean-up!
 
Who is to say when you "should have discovered" it? That's bizarre.
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I agree that in the ordinary course of events it is a little bizarre, but circumstances vary. I think the idea is to keep people from beating the rap just by acting stupid.

For example, suppose you take a gun to a range and leave without it, and then it's used in a crime. And you don't report anything to the cops. You've clearly been negligent, and possibly criminal (if you gave or sold it to a bad guy) and they don't want you to be able to walk just by saying "I guess someone stole it and I didn't notice."

I'm not arguing in favor. I'm just trying to imagine what was meant.
 
I'd like to see a law that places responsibility on the elected persons (who sponsor and vote for such idiotic local laws) for all legal fees and penalties resulting from such lawsuits. The taxpayers will take the hit on this now.
Frankly, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Harrisburg are, for all intents and purposes, broke, and the monies would be better spent elsewhere.
Hell, maybe Rendell (PA's pervert of a governor) is subsidizing the lawsuit losses with stimulus money...there's a crime there, if he is!

ALL those politicians introducing and voting for these laws know about PA pre-emption, so these "laws" (boy, do I use that term loosely!) are nothing but harassment of gun owners.
 
It was challenged in the Court of Common Pleas (County Court) and found to be Constitutional, and I believe is on appeal to the Commonwealth Court. We'll see...
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Right to Bear Arms
Section 21.
The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.
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If PA's Consitution has a section permitting self-defense by firearms, how can they claim it is consitutional?
 
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