Special Report:
PA Primary 2006—Political Backlash Or Political Terrorism
This is an article that I had hoped I would never have to write but thus far in the Pennsylvania elections, gun owners and 2nd Amendment supporters have been decimated in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Leading up to the primary there were 30 retirements in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Of these retirements 23 were pro-gun supporters. In the 2006 primary election 15 incumbents lost in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 13 of which were pro-gun supporters. This leaves gun owners with a net loss of 36 pro-gun legislators. I will be blunt-these are devastating losses. Perhaps the single greatest loss was in the 6th District-Pennsylvania House of Representatives where Teresa Forcier lost. Coming in a very close second is the loss in the 42nd District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives where Tom Stevenson also lost. Some will say that they lost to opponents who are as pro-gun as they are but the demographics of the District show that there is a very real possibility that in November the challengers who unseated the incumbents will very likely lose to anti-gun opponents who WOULD support the next pay raise. Are THESE examples of the Pay Raise opponent’s version of victory?
Pro-Gun Incumbents Who Lost in 2006 PA Primary
District
Status
Party
LastName
FirstName
City/County
District 10
Incumbent
Dem
LaGrotta
Frank
Ellwood City
District 112
Incumbent
Dem
Belardi
Fred
Scranton
District 38
Incumbent
Dem
Ruffing
Kenneth W.
West Mifflin
District 100
Incumbent
Rep
Armstrong
Gib
Strasburg
District 102
Incumbent
Rep
Zug
Peter J.
Lebanon
District 125
Incumbent
Rep
Allen
Bob
Pottsville
District 130
Incumbent
Rep
Leh
Dennis E.
Douglassville
District 187
Incumbent
Rep
Semmel
Paul W.
Schnecksville
District 42
Incumbent
Rep
Stevenson
Tom
Pittsburgh
District 6
Incumbent
Rep
Forcier
Teresa
Venango
District 90
Incumbent
Rep
Fleagle
Patrick E.
Waynesboro
District 91
Incumbent
Rep
Maitland
Stephen R.
Gettysburg
District 97
Incumbent
Rep
Baldwin
Roy E.
Lancaster
Between voter apathy and outrage over the pay raise, a number of our best legislators have been sent to the unemployment line. Some justify this as an acceptable loss to get at the really bad legislators, but will it really get at the bad legislators? The answer is a resounding NO! Of the leaders in the legislature who bullied, cajoled, and otherwise twisted arms to force legislators to support the pay raise /unvouchered expense account legislation only 2 were removed, Senator Jubelirer and Senator Brightbill. The ones that remain are Gov. Rendell, Supreme Court Justice Cappy, Senator Mellow, Representatives John Perzel, Bill DeWeese, and Mike Veon. Considering political realities, it is very likely that most of these remaining legislative leaders will remain once the smoke clears in the general election of 2006.
Why is the above important? Because while all this anti-incumbent fervor is sweeping through Pennsylvania politics, gun owners political fortunes will very likely be thrown into the dark ages. There are 54 more pro-gun legislators in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives who have a contested race for the fall. If gun owners do not get involved in this election we could very well be handing to Ed Rendell and Sarah Brady our right to bear arms on a silver platter. Of course you're probably thinking that the challengers to the incumbents are probably pro-gun but that would be a mistake! This is how the Election breaks down at this point in time in our knowledge base as far as the candidates (philosophically) on the gun issue:
Open Seats (two candidates/no incumbent—Remember most of these districts were previously pro-gun): 11 Candidates Identified as Pro-Gun – 55 are either anti-gun OR unknown
Challengers to Pro-Gun Incumbents:
7 Candidates Identified as Pro-Gun – 47 are either anti-gun OR unknown
**(Unknown means that they did not return an FOAC Survey or respond in any way)
As you can see from the above, Firearms Owners Against Crime has an enormous amount of work ahead of us just to communicate with and identify (philosophically) the candidates and, frankly, we cannot do this without your help! It is also important to point out that ‘every’ candidate for a statewide office receives the FOAC questionnaire prior to the Primary and each winner will receive an additional one with a request to communicate with us on these issues. Those that fail to respond receive a follow up and in certain cases more than one. It is also worth pointing out that of all the candidates who refer to themselves as ‘Clean Sweepers’ nearly 80% are either anti-gun or refused to answer multiple questionnaires and yet not ONE has been rejected or removed from the Clean Sweep roles due to an ‘unconstitutional position’ on YOUR Right to Bear Arms. Isn’t this why PA Clean Sweep wants ALL the incumbents removed, because the Pay Raise was ‘unconstitutional’?
At this time the legislature has before it the most pro-gun political agenda ever offered in this state. This has been the result of years and years of hard work, grassroots lobbying, and intensive discussions with legislators through which we have built a level of trust and understanding. We are in danger of losing all of this in this period of political terrorism. In essence, the group Pennsylvania Clean Sweep HAS put at risk all of our constitutional freedoms to make a Darwinian point about their narrow-minded view of the pay raise and how politics works. Let's be frank, even if all of the incumbents were removed, the political power structure of the behind-the-scenes movers and shakers would remain. One of the advantages of seniority and experience as a legislator is that you are somewhat insulated on certain issues and can resist manipulation. Since it does not appear that Leadership will be removed, then all of these new legislators will be at the mercy of the process that remains unchanged.
Some of you will disagree with these points but, keep in mind, that these are ones that have been developed and sharpened over a 20-year period of involvement in politics. We have developed a unique, in our view, method of dealing with these issues by educating and communicating with all the legislators. We only ask them to do the right thing by supporting issues factually and without bias and absent political manipulation and strong-arm tactics. Effective public policy must be based on the truth and this is the central point and foundation of our approach to legislators that has gained us so much respect, even from those who are considered to be anti-gun.
Therefore, what we're saying is that the solution to issues like gun control or even the pay raise is not some “we’ll show them” attitude that ends up leaving destruction in its wake with no REAL solution or recognition of how politics works. The true solution is for a steady, continuous, intense involvement, on the part of citizens, in the political process. This has been shown through our work over the long term to yield very positive results. The fact is that we don't discipline children in school with a nuclear bomb (the PA Clean Sweep approach), instead we single out the perpetrators and discipline them individually and this is exactly the approach that Firearms Owners Against Crime has when dealing with legislators at election time.
Basically it's up to you; do YOU want to sacrifice all the good will and hard work that we've built up over this last generation as well as our Freedoms and Rights for this pay raise issue? Unfortunately thus far the answer has been yes in it least 13 districts but if more pro-gun legislators are unemployed in November then once January 2007 rolls around WE WILL ALL RUE THE DAY!
Hunting & CCW Legislation
The PA House of Representatives legislation that will provide gun owners who hunt and possess a Concealed Carry Permit to possess their self-defense firearm while hunting currently has 42 co-sponsors and is set to be heard by the legislature shortly.
This legislation (HB 2563) has been introduced at the request of the Allegheny County Sportsmen’s League, the PA Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and the PA Sportsmen’s Association.
This legislation has been considered and voted out of committee, Game and Fish, and is projected to be brought to the floor of the House shortly.
PA Primary 2006—Political Backlash Or Political Terrorism
This is an article that I had hoped I would never have to write but thus far in the Pennsylvania elections, gun owners and 2nd Amendment supporters have been decimated in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Leading up to the primary there were 30 retirements in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Of these retirements 23 were pro-gun supporters. In the 2006 primary election 15 incumbents lost in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives 13 of which were pro-gun supporters. This leaves gun owners with a net loss of 36 pro-gun legislators. I will be blunt-these are devastating losses. Perhaps the single greatest loss was in the 6th District-Pennsylvania House of Representatives where Teresa Forcier lost. Coming in a very close second is the loss in the 42nd District of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives where Tom Stevenson also lost. Some will say that they lost to opponents who are as pro-gun as they are but the demographics of the District show that there is a very real possibility that in November the challengers who unseated the incumbents will very likely lose to anti-gun opponents who WOULD support the next pay raise. Are THESE examples of the Pay Raise opponent’s version of victory?
Pro-Gun Incumbents Who Lost in 2006 PA Primary
District
Status
Party
LastName
FirstName
City/County
District 10
Incumbent
Dem
LaGrotta
Frank
Ellwood City
District 112
Incumbent
Dem
Belardi
Fred
Scranton
District 38
Incumbent
Dem
Ruffing
Kenneth W.
West Mifflin
District 100
Incumbent
Rep
Armstrong
Gib
Strasburg
District 102
Incumbent
Rep
Zug
Peter J.
Lebanon
District 125
Incumbent
Rep
Allen
Bob
Pottsville
District 130
Incumbent
Rep
Leh
Dennis E.
Douglassville
District 187
Incumbent
Rep
Semmel
Paul W.
Schnecksville
District 42
Incumbent
Rep
Stevenson
Tom
Pittsburgh
District 6
Incumbent
Rep
Forcier
Teresa
Venango
District 90
Incumbent
Rep
Fleagle
Patrick E.
Waynesboro
District 91
Incumbent
Rep
Maitland
Stephen R.
Gettysburg
District 97
Incumbent
Rep
Baldwin
Roy E.
Lancaster
Between voter apathy and outrage over the pay raise, a number of our best legislators have been sent to the unemployment line. Some justify this as an acceptable loss to get at the really bad legislators, but will it really get at the bad legislators? The answer is a resounding NO! Of the leaders in the legislature who bullied, cajoled, and otherwise twisted arms to force legislators to support the pay raise /unvouchered expense account legislation only 2 were removed, Senator Jubelirer and Senator Brightbill. The ones that remain are Gov. Rendell, Supreme Court Justice Cappy, Senator Mellow, Representatives John Perzel, Bill DeWeese, and Mike Veon. Considering political realities, it is very likely that most of these remaining legislative leaders will remain once the smoke clears in the general election of 2006.
Why is the above important? Because while all this anti-incumbent fervor is sweeping through Pennsylvania politics, gun owners political fortunes will very likely be thrown into the dark ages. There are 54 more pro-gun legislators in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives who have a contested race for the fall. If gun owners do not get involved in this election we could very well be handing to Ed Rendell and Sarah Brady our right to bear arms on a silver platter. Of course you're probably thinking that the challengers to the incumbents are probably pro-gun but that would be a mistake! This is how the Election breaks down at this point in time in our knowledge base as far as the candidates (philosophically) on the gun issue:
Open Seats (two candidates/no incumbent—Remember most of these districts were previously pro-gun): 11 Candidates Identified as Pro-Gun – 55 are either anti-gun OR unknown
Challengers to Pro-Gun Incumbents:
7 Candidates Identified as Pro-Gun – 47 are either anti-gun OR unknown
**(Unknown means that they did not return an FOAC Survey or respond in any way)
As you can see from the above, Firearms Owners Against Crime has an enormous amount of work ahead of us just to communicate with and identify (philosophically) the candidates and, frankly, we cannot do this without your help! It is also important to point out that ‘every’ candidate for a statewide office receives the FOAC questionnaire prior to the Primary and each winner will receive an additional one with a request to communicate with us on these issues. Those that fail to respond receive a follow up and in certain cases more than one. It is also worth pointing out that of all the candidates who refer to themselves as ‘Clean Sweepers’ nearly 80% are either anti-gun or refused to answer multiple questionnaires and yet not ONE has been rejected or removed from the Clean Sweep roles due to an ‘unconstitutional position’ on YOUR Right to Bear Arms. Isn’t this why PA Clean Sweep wants ALL the incumbents removed, because the Pay Raise was ‘unconstitutional’?
At this time the legislature has before it the most pro-gun political agenda ever offered in this state. This has been the result of years and years of hard work, grassroots lobbying, and intensive discussions with legislators through which we have built a level of trust and understanding. We are in danger of losing all of this in this period of political terrorism. In essence, the group Pennsylvania Clean Sweep HAS put at risk all of our constitutional freedoms to make a Darwinian point about their narrow-minded view of the pay raise and how politics works. Let's be frank, even if all of the incumbents were removed, the political power structure of the behind-the-scenes movers and shakers would remain. One of the advantages of seniority and experience as a legislator is that you are somewhat insulated on certain issues and can resist manipulation. Since it does not appear that Leadership will be removed, then all of these new legislators will be at the mercy of the process that remains unchanged.
Some of you will disagree with these points but, keep in mind, that these are ones that have been developed and sharpened over a 20-year period of involvement in politics. We have developed a unique, in our view, method of dealing with these issues by educating and communicating with all the legislators. We only ask them to do the right thing by supporting issues factually and without bias and absent political manipulation and strong-arm tactics. Effective public policy must be based on the truth and this is the central point and foundation of our approach to legislators that has gained us so much respect, even from those who are considered to be anti-gun.
Therefore, what we're saying is that the solution to issues like gun control or even the pay raise is not some “we’ll show them” attitude that ends up leaving destruction in its wake with no REAL solution or recognition of how politics works. The true solution is for a steady, continuous, intense involvement, on the part of citizens, in the political process. This has been shown through our work over the long term to yield very positive results. The fact is that we don't discipline children in school with a nuclear bomb (the PA Clean Sweep approach), instead we single out the perpetrators and discipline them individually and this is exactly the approach that Firearms Owners Against Crime has when dealing with legislators at election time.
Basically it's up to you; do YOU want to sacrifice all the good will and hard work that we've built up over this last generation as well as our Freedoms and Rights for this pay raise issue? Unfortunately thus far the answer has been yes in it least 13 districts but if more pro-gun legislators are unemployed in November then once January 2007 rolls around WE WILL ALL RUE THE DAY!
Hunting & CCW Legislation
The PA House of Representatives legislation that will provide gun owners who hunt and possess a Concealed Carry Permit to possess their self-defense firearm while hunting currently has 42 co-sponsors and is set to be heard by the legislature shortly.
This legislation (HB 2563) has been introduced at the request of the Allegheny County Sportsmen’s League, the PA Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and the PA Sportsmen’s Association.
This legislation has been considered and voted out of committee, Game and Fish, and is projected to be brought to the floor of the House shortly.