Wednesday, April 17, 2013
The Senate rejected Pat Toomey's attempt to expand background checks via a controversial gun control amendment voted on Wednesday afternoon.
U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey sounded unconcerned in a conference call Wednesday when a reporter asked about the possibility that his NRA rating would be downgraded because of his recent compromise move on gun control. "This is not about the NRA or politics for me," Toomey said. The Toomey-Manchin amendment to expand background checks was narrowly defeated in the Senate on Wednesday afternoon. The vote was 54 yes to 46 no. Sixty votes rather than a simple majority were needed to pass the amendment. Toomey issued this statement just after the vote: “I did what I thought was the right thing for our country. I sought out a compromise position that I thought could move the ball forward on an important matter of public safety. My only regret is that our…
Friday, April 5, 2013
Risa Ferman says it could reduce violence in Montco.
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Friday, April 5
Delaware Valley politicians ban together to fight to get tougher gun laws. The district attorneys in the Greater Philadelphia area have put their heads together to find ways to restrict illegal weapons in the region. Risa Vetri Ferman, Montgomery County District Attorney, told Nesworks that "the legislation could also help reduce violence in [Montgomery County] areas." According to a report by WHYY, Ferman has "joined a bipartisan contingent of lawmakers to discuss new state legislation setting a mandatory minimum two-year sentence for illegally carrying a firearm in Philadelphia." To read the full report and all the bill entails, visit the Newsworks story here.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Many Montco politicians are pushing for measures that seem to fall flat in state legislature.
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, April 4
As Connecticut passes its laws to restrict gun purchases with stricter policies, similar bills in Pennsylvania's legislature are falling flat. Local rallies have been hosted in Montgomery County, and its representatives are voicing the concerns. State Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-153) of Montgomery County, has worked with state Rep. Steve Santarsiero (D-31) and state Rep. Ron Waters (D-191) on a series of bills, including the banning of assault weapons called House Bill 517, according to a report in PhillyBurbs.com. Restrictions are not just being called for one one side. Todd Stephens (R-151), a former Assistant District Attorney in Montgomery County, has introduced House Bill 931, to "require the Pennsylvania State Police to send all existing …
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Speakers say they aren't interested in taking away anyone's right to own firearms legally. Gun rights advocates there to protest the rally were not convinced.
More than a dozen local politicians, law enforcement officers and gun control supporters took to the steps of the Montgomery County Courthouse on Thursday afternoon to call for what they say is "commonsense" gun legislation requiring universal background checks for anyone wishing to purchase a firearm in any situation. The rally was organized by Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG) and a local group called Lower Merion United in conjunction with a "National Day to Demand Action" on behalf of gun control legislation. "We believe that the way to prevent gun violence is for all of us to have the courage to reach out to one another," said Shawn Kraemer, one of the organizers of the group. Other speakers included Montgomery County Commissioners' …
40.116063
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Montgomery County Courthouse
493 Swede St, Norristown, PA
/articles/gun-control-supporters-call-for-universal-background-checks-at-courthouse-rally
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Norristown's interim Chief of Police Willie Richet and Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro are expected to lead the call to end gun violence and 'support commonsense gun laws' as part of a "National Day to Demand Action."
The debate over gun control continues in the county seat as both Norristown's interim Chief of Police Willie Richet and Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro are expected to take to the steps of Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown at 2:30 p.m. today, Thursday, March 28 to call for an end to gun violence and urge lawmakers to pass gun safety legislation like universal background checks. The planned rally is part of a "National Day to Demand Action" organized by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a bipartisan gun violence prevention advocacy organization co-chaired by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. There are similar events planned in more than 100 towns and cities across the country today, …
40.116063
-75.34366
Montgomery County Courthouse
493 Swede St, Norristown, PA
/articles/gun-control-rally-planned-for-montco-courthouse-thursday-afternoon
1266307
/locations/9118649
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Department's Gun Permit Division will have special morning hours this Saturday.
In an effort to serve county residents whose work schedules make it difficult for them to visit the Montgomery County Courthouse during normal business hours, the Sheriff's Department has announced special Saturday hours this weekend for the Gun Permit Division. Department employees will be available to service residents seeking gun permits this Saturday, March 9 from 9 a.m. to noon. Gun permit applications, instructions and local police check forms can be found on the county's website or downloaded from our PDF section. In related news, the Prothonotary's office will also be open this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for "Passport Day in the USA." Read more about county passport services on Saturday here.
40.116063
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Montgomery County Courthouse
493 Swede St, Norristown, PA
/articles/gun-permits-available-this-saturday-morning
1266307
/locations/8954732
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Locals organized a 'Montgomery County Day of Resistance' at the courthouse to call attention to what they feel is a threat to their rights as Americans.
More than 150 people, many armed, gathered on the street in front of the Montgomery County Courthouse on Saturday afternoon for a rally organized by Citizens for Liberty. The rally featured several speakers who spoke passionately about their thoughts on gun control and was followed by an open carry walk through town. Norristown Police were present for the gathering.
40.116063
-75.34366
Montgomery County Courthouse
493 Swede St, Norristown, PA
/articles/gun-rights-advocates-rally-in-noristown
1266307
/locations/8875956
Local political group Citizens for Liberty has planned a "Montgomery County Day of Resistance" in support of the 2nd Amendment.
Citizens for Liberty, a local, grassroots political action group, has planned a "Montgomery County Day of Resistance" today, Saturday, Feb. 23, in support of "firearms owners against crime who support the constitution," according to the group's Facebook page. The rally, set to begin at 2 p.m. at the Montgomery County Courthouse, is scheduled to feature guest speakers including Citizens for Liberty organizers, state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler County) and others, an open carry walk and an after-rally gathering at Giacomo's Restaurant & Deli. "This is not a Republican thing, this is not a Democrat thing, this is an American thing," the event listing states. Learn more about the event and Citizens for Liberty on their Facebook event page.
40.116063
-75.34366
Montgomery County Courthouse
493 Swede St, Norristown, PA
/articles/gun-rights-advocates-plan-rally-at-courthouse-today
1266307
/locations/8871148
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Meanwhile, a Republican-sponsored bill named for a popular caliber of handgun would seek to prevent any federal gun control legislation from being enforceable inside Pennsylvania.
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Tuesday, February 19
Citing the December shooting deaths of a classroom full of Connecticut first graders as a last straw, Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-153) of Montgomery County has entered the the national gun control debate by co-sponsoring legislation that would "ban the possession, use, control, sale, transfer, or manufacture of an assault weapon within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania." The bill, H.B. 517, defines as assault weapon as any "selective-fire firearm capable of fully automatic, semi automatic or burst fire at the option of the user." It also lists a roster of specific semi automatic gun models that would be prohibited. Republican state legislators have vowed to stall the bill, which Dean sponsored along with Rep. Ronald G. Waters (D) of Delaware …
Monday, February 18, 2013
A Pennsylvania tot gets suspended from kindergarten.
On the heels of the events at Sandy Hook, a shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut, the nation has been abuzz with gun control debates. This weekend, USAToday reported that a Pennsylvania girl, waiting for her bus to kindergarten, was suspended from school for her actions. "Waiting in line for the bus, a Pennsylvania kindergartner tells her pals she's going to shoot them with a Hello Kitty toy that makes soap bubbles," said the article. The act landed the 5-year-old Eastern Pennsylvania girl in for suspension, as her district cited "terroristic threats" as its reasoning. Can a 5-year-old commit a terroristic threat? Are our schools going too far? Are they not going far enough? Voice your concerns, in favor of or against the act, …
Micky
8:47 pm on Saturday, April 20, 2013
You know, a lot of what I see on here is bitching and whining about this bill not passing. Guess what: SUCK IT THE FUCK UP! Long story short, we win, you lose. Get over it. Bitching isn't going to make you any less of a loser on this issue. Period. more ›