An attempt by some anti-gun Democrats in the Pennsylvania legislature to institute additional firearms restrictions through a “backdoor” strategy has one major gun-rights group sounding the alarm to its members.
HB 2018 creates a “Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board” that expands information-sharing authority among law enforcement, courts, and a new review board. And according to the group Gun Owners Of America (GOA), if passed, the law leaves plenty of wiggle room to institute additional gun control measures.
“This bill creates a centralized data-analysis apparatus that can later be use to argue that ‘system failures’ include lack of gun confiscation, that background checks are insufficient, that PFA firearm surrender rules should be expanded and that Red Flag Gun Confiscation Orders are ‘necessary,’” GOA’s Pennsylvania President Val Finnell wrote in a state alert.
As Finnell further pointed out, the measure would also allow review teams and the Board to recommend “changes in legislation, regulations, and policies.”
“These reports will almost certainly frame firearms access as a ‘risk factor,’ promote Red Flag Gun Confiscation laws, advocate for mandatory gun seizure upon allegation, not convictions, and recommend expansion of prohibited-person categories,” he wrote.
Finnell said passage of the measure would be a disaster for the God-given rights of all Pennsylvania gun owners.
“And you can be sure that ‘The Domestic Violence Fatality Review Board’ will recreate the classic pipeline of data collection–>narrative framing–>legislative pressure–>more gun control,” he wrote. “That’s why I need you to send a message (by using the form above) to your state representative right away, urging them to vote OPPOSE HB 2018. Let them know you oppose backdoor gun control.”
The letter, which is available for Pennsylvania GOA members to sign and send electronically, states: “While the title of the bill suggests a focus on domestic violence, the actual mechanisms of the legislation create a centralized data-collection apparatus that poses a direct threat to the Article 1, Section 21 rights of law-abiding citizens.”
The letter explains to lawmakers how the law, if passed, could be used to the detriment of state gun owners.
“Our God-given rights should not be subject to the recommendations of an unelected review board,” the letter stresses. “Legislative policy concerning our fundamental rights must remain in the hands of the people’s representatives, not a data-analysis apparatus designed to frame a specific anti-gun narrative.”
Ultimately, the letter urges members to strongly oppose the “backdoor gun control” measure.
“I urge you to stand up for the constitutional rights of your constituents and OPPOSE HB 2018, and let House Judiciary Chairman Tim Briggs know my position on this bill,” the letter concludes. “GOA will keep me informed. I would like to know your position on this critical matter.”
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