Sunday, December 21, 2008

New Pittsburgh gun control ordinance goes into effect

From the Keystone State:
A controversial gun-control law passed by Pittsburgh City Council will take effect within 10 days without Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's signature.

Whether it will be enforced remains to be seen.

The law, which many believe violates the state Constitution, requires gun owners to report a lost or stolen gun within 24 hours of noticing it's gone. The measure is designed to stop the flow of guns into the streets through straw purchasers -- people with clean records who buy guns to sell to criminals.

In a letter to council, Ravenstahl said the city's Home Rule Charter, as well as the state Uniform Firearms Act, "preclude enforcement of this ordinance." A similar law in Philadelphia was struck down by Commonwealth Court, a decision that was appealed to the state Supreme Court.

The law might violate a 1995 agreement between the city and gun rights advocates, in which the city agreed to leave gun-control laws to the state, Ravenstahl said.

City Council passed the law Dec. 2 in a 6-1 vote, making a veto "futile," Ravenstahl said Monday.

Article here.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Why would anyone having property stolen worth several $100's NOT want to report the crime? Those who don't already won't be suitably motivated by yet another law.