Toomey Gun Control Compromise Earns Mixed Reaction

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent

HARRISBURG — Federal efforts to impose more extensive background checks on firearms purchases is having a ripple effect back at the Pennsylvania State Capitol.

Not only did a large group of Republicans urge ., to reject a compromise on gun laws, but House Democrats are calling for state legislation to close loopholes, regardless of federal decisions.

Toomey, who has a local office in Salisbury Township, was a lead GOP negotiator in the U.S. Senate with Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va.,regarding the The Public Safety and Second Amendment Rights Protection Act, which expands background checks on gun purchases.

Tuesday, 76 of Toomey’s GOP counterparts in the Pennsylvania House penned a plea to the first-term senator, urging him to reject any compromise advancing new gun-control measures.

“We encourage and expect you to stand with us to protect our God-given right to keep and bear arms,” the letter says.

Following Wednesday’s deal, Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler, a vocal Second Amendment supporter who signed the letter, said Toomey’s decision is hurting his base back home.

“We need to see Pat Toomey take a couple steps back here and understand that his base does not want these additional gun control measures,” Metcalfe said. “There’s already checks done on every retail purchase around this country.”

Metcalfe said criminals who obtain guns are stealing them, or making straw purchases, already a felony.

A deal reached by lawmakers Wednesday would require that all criminal records and mental health records are added to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System,and it would expand existing background checks to sales at gun shows or made online.

The legislation also bars the federal government from creating a national firearms registry. Toomey, a gun owner, said the legislation does not infringe on any constitutional right of law-abiding citizens.

“Criminal background checks are just common sense,” read Toomey’s statement following the announcement. “If you pass a criminal background check, you can buy a gun. It’s the people who fail a criminal or mental health background check that we don’t want having guns.”

Pennsylvania’s other senator, Democrat Sen. Bob Casey, previously changed his stance on gun control measures following the mass shooting in Newtown, Conn.

A Franklin and Marshall College Poll from February shows 94 percent of Pennsylvanians support background checks on all firearm purchases. State House Democrats during a news conference Wednesday pointed to this statistic while unveiling a new state bill regarding firearms.

Bill sponsor Rep. Steve Santarsiero, D-Bucks, said a loophole in the current law allows private, non-licensed sellers to sell long-barrel guns without a background check.

Further, House Bill 1010 would require all firearm sales, regardless of the barrel length, to take place in front of a licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer or county sheriff. That process also includes a 48-hour waiting period before delivering the firearm.

Santarsiero said he was “hopeful” after hearing about federal negotiations, but he would pursue state legislation nonetheless. Proposals may change, he said.

“It’s hard to know what that bill will be,” Santarsiero said. “We have to focus on what we can do here in Pennsylvania.”

Santarsiero’s legislation has about three dozen co-sponsors. Rep. Ron Waters, D-Philadelphia, who has previously sponsored gun control legislation, said the issue is not about taking away constitutional rights.

“Know that we support the Second Amendment, but we support public safety first,” Waters said.

Groups endorsing the legislation include Ceasefire PA, Mayors Against Illegal Guns, Bucks Safe, The Peace Center, Keystone Progress and Bucks Against Gun Violence.

Attorney General Kathleen Kane, who attended the news conference, also supports the measure.

“We deserve to talk about making sure everyone is safe,” Kane said.

Contact Melissa Daniels at melissa@paindependent.com