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Lawmakers Fight Over Constitutionality Of New PA Gun Law In Court

AP Photo/Keith Srakocic
Gun World salesman Alfred Ozga, right, talks with a customer at the sparse display of handguns available at the store on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 in Harrisville, Pa.

The Commonwealth Court heard arguments Wednesday about the constitutionality of a state law that has made it possible for gun rights groups, like the National Rifle Association (NRA), to sue municipalities for their local gun ordinances.

According to the filing, the legislation combined “two utterly disparate subject matters in one bill”—the granting of standing to gun groups and the criminalization of the theft of secondary metals (like copper pipes and aluminum wires).

“There’s no way on planet earth those two are related,” said Senator Daylin Leach (D), who is one of the plaintiffs.

Leach said that breaks the constitution’s single subject rule, which says bills that pass must focus on one issue.

“It’s to prevent people from passing bills that are really popular on one issue and unpopular on another and forcing the legislators and the governor to vote on or to veto or to sign bills with totally unrelated subjects to them,” Leach said.

Read more of this report at the website of our partner Keystone Crossroads.