Obama’s action on gun buys draws mixed reaction here
Less than two hours after President Obama outlined his executive actions to prevent gun violence in a nationally televised speech Tuesday afternoon, a few patrons were doing business at Miller’s Sporting Goods Hunting & Shooting Supplies.
Nobody behind or in front of the counter at the Lower Chichester gun shop cared to identify themselves, but all agreed that the president’s initiatives would not end the mass shootings that have plagued the nation in recent years.
“If it was something that would take guns out of the hands of bad guys that would be fine, but it’s benign. It’s just politicians talking. It would be nice if it had an effect. There’s not a gun owner alive that doesn’t support taking guns out of the hands of bad guys,” said a 50-year-old Delaware County man.
“The Department of Justice should be doing their job and enforcing the law,” added an employee dressed in camouflage attire.
Although all gun sales protocol was observed, Miller’s was the source of illegally purchased guns by the first two people in Pennsylvania convicted under the state’s “Brad Fox Law” enacted in 2013. Named for a Montgomery County police officer killed with a gun acquired through a “straw purchase” in 2012, it requires a minimum of five years in prison.
Last March gun shop owner Joseph Miller noted that he has made background checks with Pennsylvania State Police for every customer first, over the phone through the .Instant Check Unit that was established July 1, 1998, and, since Feb. 8, 2014, via computer. Miller said he also videotaped every gun purchase.
Part of Obama’s executive order provides for the upgrade and expansion of what the president called an “outdated background check system,” including federal mental health records. He has also authorized the investment of $500 million to expand access to mental health treatment. In addition the president has called for research into advancing gun safety to help avoid accidental gun deaths.
“President Obama has finally listened to the majority of Americans rather than fearing a small minority of anti-gun regulation extremists. It’s a small step – but it’s an important one – and it’s about time,” said Terry Rumsey, co-chair of Delaware County United for Sensible Gun Policy.
The primary piece of Obama’s executive order is universal background checks for all firearms purchased both from licensed gun dealers and private sellers. He likened it to the legislation proposed in 2013 by U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., in the aftermath of the Dec. 14, 2012, massacre of 20 first-graders and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. The bill twice failed to overcome filibusters in the Senate.
Tuesday morning Toomey said he still supported “background checks for all commercial sales of firearms” but expressed skepticism over the president’s executive actions.
“While I am still awaiting further information about the executive order, the president has abused these actions in the past and exceeded the boundaries of the law. This should not be allowed under our constitutional framework,” said Toomey, who is running for re-election this year. “Like other matters, the most ap- propriate way for handling firearm issues is when Congress and the president work together.”
Current Pennsylvania law requires background checks for all firearms purchased from licensed dealers and for handguns purchased privately, but not for the private purchase of long guns such as military assault-type weapons. The updated House Bill 1010 and Senate Bill 1049 proposed in Harrisburg last fall would close that gap. State Rep. Jamie Santora, R-163, of Upper Darby, the first Republican in the state House to sign on as a co-sponsor, said he hoped to see an increase in bipartisan support that would get the bill voted out of committee by this spring.
“I am not a big fan of an ‘executive order’ even if I believe in all of or part of an issue. We have three branches of government that are separate but equal for a reason. The legislative branch is there to make law. I believe this diminishes the importance of the Constitution and our freedom,” said Santora.
Another co-sponsor of House Bill 1010, state Rep. Leanne K rueger-Braneky, D -161, of Swarthmore, said she hoped Pennsylvania legislators would follow the president’s lead.
“President Obama acted admirably today by refusing to allow a gridlocked Congress currently held hostage by the National Rifle Association to continue stonewalling attempts at common sense firearm legislation,” said Krueger-Braneky.
U.S. Sen. Robert Casey, D-Pa., who formerly earned high grades from the National Rifle Association for his voting record on gun issues, also applauded the president’s executive action on gun control.
“Congress should move to immediately fund the president’s request for an additional 200 ATF agents and investigators and ensure that all law enforcement programs are fully funded in the (Fiscal Year) 17 budget,” said Casey.
U.S. Sen. Patrick Meehan, R-7, of Upper Darby, said he was pleased with the president’s renewed emphasis on access to mental health care and more resources devoted to the background check system.
“I’m also encouraged to see the Department of Justice will be placing renewed emphasis on prosecuting gun crimes,” said Meehan, himself a former U.S. prosecutor.
Two Democrats competing for Toomey’s Senate seat this fall both applauded the president’s executive actions. Former U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak of Edgmont, who lost the 2010 senate election to Toomey by 2 percent of the vote, called upon Toomey to support the president’s steps to prevent gun violence. Gov. Tom Wolf’s former chief of staff, Katie McGinty, noted “it is shameful that Congress was unable to pass comprehensive gun legislation in the first place.”