Pittsburgh-area college abandons free speech restrictions

From FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education:

After months of national media attention, a student threatened with punishment for attempting to form a gun-rights group at Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) is finally allowed to distribute pamphlets about the group on campus. The college has also rescinded its unconstitutional policy demanding "prior written approval" for "personal contact with individuals or groups related to non-sponsored college material or events." After Christine Brashier, who wanted to form a chapter of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC), was told that her pamphlets were unacceptable "solicitation" and that any further efforts would be considered "academic misconduct," she turned to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) for help.

"We are pleased that CCAC has finally given its students the right to encourage one another to band together for causes they believe in," FIRE President Greg Lukianoff said. "This is another example of how just one college student standing up for her rights can help bring liberty to her entire campus."

In April, Brashier created pamphlets to distribute to her classmates encouraging them to join her in forming a chapter of the SCCC national organization at CCAC. Her pamphlets stated that the group "supports the legalization of concealed carry by licensed individuals on college campuses." She personally distributed copies of the pamphlets, which identified her as a "Campus Leader" of the effort to start the chapter.

Brashier was quickly summoned to a meeting with administrators, who told her that passing out her non-commercial pamphlets was prohibited as "solicitation." Furthermore, they insisted that the college pre-approve any pamphlets, that pamphlets like hers would not be approved, and that Brashier destroy all copies of her pamphlet. At one point during the meeting, Dean Yvonne Burns reportedly said, "You may want to discuss this topic but the college does not, and you cannot make us." Brashier was warned that any further efforts would be considered "academic misconduct."

FIRE wrote CCAC President Alex Johnson on April 29 about these violations of Brashier's First Amendment speech and association rights, pointing out that her speech in no way constituted solicitation, that CCAC may not condition approval of literature on its viewpoint or content, and that if CCAC recognizes student organizations at all, it must recognize an organization that supports concealed carry on campus. ...

More details here. Our colleges and universities are bastions of leftist thought and political correctness, where open expression and debate are often institutionally suppressed. The community college in question only grudgingly backed down because it knew it would lose a lawsuit.

Gun Rights News Roundup

Articles, news stories, and op-eds of interest to gun owners:

[D.C.] Amendment to legalize National Park carry passes Senate:

The Senate on Tuesday night easily passed an amendment to credit card reform legislation that would allow concealed weapons in national parks. The vote was 67 to 29.

The question now is this: Will a controversial gun proposal attached to popular underlying legislation be the poison pill that sinks that larger bill? That’s been the case with legislation allowing the District of Columbia a voting representative in Congress, to which the Senate attached language scrapping many of Washington’s strict gun control laws. As a result of that gun amendment, the DC-vote bill remains stalled in the House months after it passed the upper chamber. ...

Comment: Expect to see the National Parks carry amendment's language stripped out in conference committee.


[Michigan] Group plans Second Amendment marches:

In January 2009, Michigan based author and Second Amendment advocate, Skip Coryell received an email from a woman in Belgium describing the helplessness she and coworkers felt when a knife-wielding attacker terrorized the daycare facility where she worked. As in many European countries, victims at the facility were disarmed and at the mercy of their attacker thanks to that country's draconian gun control laws. Determined to not let things progress that far here, Coryell decided to do something about it.

"This is the beginning of a period of historic change in our nation's history and it is no time for the timid," said Coryell. "This is a time for brave men and women to stand up and be counted. We want our children to inherit the same freedom our forefathers knew. Freedom has to be protected or it will fail. We are at a crossroads. The time to act is now."

With that, Coryell began laying the groundwork for the Second Amendment March (S.A.M.), tentatively scheduled for April 19, 2010, which included networking with other gun rights groups and activists. The Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners, of which Coryell is a member, was one of his earliest supporters. Soon after work began, rock personality and Second Amendment champion Ted Nugent promised a "firebreathing Star Spangled Banner eruption" in support of the event. ...

[Illinois] Gun, ammo sales booming:

As the owner of Midwestern Firearms Company in East Peoria, John Meek aims each business day to sell as much ammunition as he can to responsible owners of handguns.

Lately there's been one big hitch in his business model.

He has no ammunition to sell.

"I've been out for about two weeks," Meek said. "I get spare cases in now and then, but people are keeping an eye on what's coming in, and those don't last long."

Those familiar with the firearm industry say it is no coincidence that there has been a run on the nation's gun stores since the election of Barack Obama last November.
...
"Demand for ammunition, across caliber lines, is outpacing supply. In order to keep up with demand, manufacturers are working at full capacity, 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said Ted Novin, the director of public affairs for the National Shooting Sports Foundation. ...

[Illinois] Another article on the surge in guns and ammo sales:

GALESBURG — Gil Hebard — owner of a gun store in Knoxville — can’t buy enough ammunition to keep up with demand.

“It started when Obama was elected,” Hebard said about the surge in demand for firearms and ammunition. Gun fans are worried the president will clamp down on their rights and are stockpiling supplies in case that happens.

“Nationwide, people are worried about Obama,” Hebard said. He is convinced the new administration will move to tighten gun controls. “It’s not if it will happen it’s when they will start gun legislation,” he said.
...
Some supporters of Second Amendment rights who have never owned a gun are now rushing to buy firearms because they fear their rights will be curtailed by the Obama administration, according to one local in the business.

“Americans that have never even had guns but support the Second Amendment are now going out to buy,” Al Hayden, of Al’s Sporting Goods in Galesburg, said.

Hayden’s supplies of ammunition have been drained by eager gun-owners motivated by worry over the new administration’s plans.

“My ammo shelves are pretty empty right now,” Hayden said. “People have been buying ammo faster than they can make it.” ...

[Pennsylvania] Pittsburgh gets help from anti-gunners in legal battle with NRA over gun controls:

Two opposing national groups will duke it out in court over Pittsburgh's new ordinance on lost and stolen guns, with the announcement that the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence will join the city's Law Department in fighting a National Rifle Association lawsuit.

Pittsburgh Council President Doug Shields said he will propose legislation enabling the city to receive help from two lawyers with extensive experience tussling with the high-powered NRA.

"It will be a team effort," Mr. Shields said.

Council passed an ordinance in December that compels gun owners to contact the police within 24 hours of the loss or theft of a firearm, or face fines and, for repeat offenders, imprisonment.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said the ordinance was unenforceable and let it go into law without his signature, but the city will defend it against the NRA in court. ...

[Louisiana] Campus carry bill passes committee, moves to House floor:

BATON ROUGE – Over the objections of university officials, including campus police, a House committee has approved allowing the carrying of concealed weapons on college campuses.

The House Criminal Justice Committee voted 9-6 to approve HB27 by its chairman, Rep. Ernest Wooton, R-Belle Chasse. He got the committee’s approval last year but widespread opposition led him to withdraw the bill before it was voted on by the House.

Armed with the backing of Gov. Bobby Jindal and the National Rifle Association, Wooton is moving forward this year.

“I am a strong believer in the Second Amendment rights,” Jindal said. “If the bill gets to my desk, I will sign it.” [emphasis added] ...

[Louisiana] New "assault weapons" ban proposed:

Louisiana House Health and Welfare Committee members are scheduled to consider a statewide ban on assault weapons today.

New Orleans Representative Cedric Richmond sponsors the measure. Similar bills have failed each of the past two years.

This year, Richmond says, his bill is more specific.

"I went in this year and listed 11 weapons that my police chief has talked about as being the most serious threat to public safety," Richmond told the WWL State Capitol Bureau. "I hunt and I fish. I have a rifle and I have a handgun, but I don't need an AK-47. I can't go buy a bazooka, so why should I be able to go buy and AK-47. I think we are just taking it too far."

Richmond says his bill this year contains language to outlaw specific models of semiautomatic weapons that he says are designed only to kill human beings. ...

Comment: The Second Amendment isn't about hunting, or target shooting, or sport shooting. The Second Amendment was designed to ensure that America would always have a heavily armed populace, capable of defending itself against thugs, and tyrants. That requires weaponry that's designed "to kill human beings." Indeed, that's what makes such weaponry useful for protecting ourselves from thugs and tyrants.

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.

Pittsburgh passes anti-gun ordinance, despite state law prohibition

From Pittsburgh:

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― A bill approved by Pittsburgh City Council would require gun owners to report lost or stolen guns.

It passed by a vote of 6-1. But the debate in council chambers was over whether the bill has any teeth to it - as well as perceptions of why a state law may limit the city's power.

"And it started when the National Rifle Association, gripping their gun with their cold dead hand - the most ridiculous statement I ever heard in my life - went to our legislature and I don't know if you're ever tangled with the NRA but I have on three separate occasions," said Council president Doug Shields. "They don't play nice. They don't stick their neck out in public. They work the back room."

Shields claims the state law that may make the bill meaningless was arranged by the NRA.

Rev. Ricky Burgess, though, voted no - saying however the state law was written, it is clear.

"No municipality in this commonwealth under any circumstances may regulate firearms of any kind at any time for any reason," said Burgess. [emphasis added]

But Councilmember Tonya Payne voted for it.

Article here. You may recall that Councilwoman Payne was reported as saying she didn't care whether the ordinance was constitutional or not. When our elected servants don't think it important to act within the law, ordinary citizens may decide to follow suit.

Councilwoman: "Who really cares about it being unconstitutional?"

From the Keystone State:

Pittsburgh City Council gave its first approval today to legislation requiring that anyone report a lost or stolen firearm report that within 24 hours or potentially face a $500 fine.

The 6-1 vote, with two abstentions, sets up a final vote likely next week, which would send the legislation to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl for his signature or veto, and then potentially to the courts, where similar measures have been challenged.

"Who really cares about it being unconstitutional?" said Councilwoman Tonya Payne, a supporter. "This is what's right to do, and if this means that we have to go out and have a court battle, then that's fine ... We have plenty of dead bodies coming up in our streets every single day, and that is unacceptable." [emphasis added]

The lone no vote was by Councilman Ricky Burgess, who argued that it would be a "false cure" that would be "particularly cruel" to his violence-plagued northeastern Pittsburgh district.

"This legislation will not strike a blow to straw purchasers," he said. "This ordinance will not be enforced, no loopholes will be closed and no lives will be saved, because no municipality can legally regulate firearms of any kind, at any time, for any reason."

Article here. The sad part isn't that Councilwoman Payne doesn't seem to care whether the laws she votes for passes constitutional muster, or that she (presumably) took a solemn oath to support said Constitution, but that she will likely suffer no ill effects from such an outrageous statement.

Meanwhile, in Easton, PA, the city council rejected a similar ordinance proposed by that town's mayor:

City council resoundingly defeated a measure Tuesday that would have required the owners of lost or stolen handguns to report the missing firearms to police.

Council members Ken Brown, Elinor Warner, Pam Panto, Roger Ruggles and Sandra Vulcano voted against requiring that residents must report a missing handgun within 24 hours of discovering the gun lost or stolen. Violators faced a $1,000 fine or 90 days in prison.

Mayor Sal Panto and Councilman Jeff Warren voted in favor.

Panto introduced the measure in October as part of a coalition of eight mayors backing identical laws meant to send a message to Harrisburg about the need for stricter gun laws.

Despite a legal opinion from the city solicitor that the law would prove indefensible in court, the mayor pressed on Tuesday with the vote. Panto even said the city wouldn't pay to defend the law should someone challenge it.

"Why have an ordinance that doesn't hold up in court?" Ruggles asked.

Article here.