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For Immediate
Release
3/4/13
Eichelberger Introduces Bill to
Protect Pennsylvania's Right to Bear Arms
Harrisburg, PA – Monday, March 4, 2013 – Today,
State Senator John H. Eichelberger, Jr. (R-30) announced his plan to introduce
legislation to safeguard the protections contained in the Pennsylvania
Constitution against attempts by the federal government to dilute them.
"Many, including myself, believe that Pennsylvania's
constitutional protections of the right to bear arms are much clearer and
stronger than those contained in the federal document," stated Eichelberger. "I
also believe it is a clear principle of law that a state constitution may not
offer less protection than the U.S. Constitution, but it can afford greater
protections."
Pennsylvania's provisions regarding the right to bear arms
pre-date the federal constitution. In fact, Pennsylvania was the first state to
address the right to bear arms in its constitution. By the time the Second
Amendment to the
United States Constitution was adopted, Pennsylvania had already reaffirmed
the right to bear arms as a fundamental individual freedom. The year before the
ratification of the federal Bill of Rights, Pennsylvania's protections were made
even stronger, by adding the clear and unequivocal phrase, "shall not be
questioned." The language, in Article I, Section 21, has carried through
since that time: "The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of
themselves and the State shall not be questioned."
Eichelberger noted: "My legislation would make it clear
that the Commonwealth will not assist the federal government in watering down
individual rights protected by its constitution. The bill would prohibit the
use of any state or local resources, including personnel, buildings, and
equipment, to enforce any new federal restriction on the purchase or ownership
of any firearms and accessories which are currently legal products in
Pennsylvania."
CONTACT:
Lee Derr
(717) 787-5490
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