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In this Update:
Senate Honors America250 in Philadelphia
Two and a half centuries ago, our Founding Fathers gathered in Philadelphia to give rise to the United States of America. After 250 years, this grand experiment has allowed our country to become, as President Ronald Reagan described it, the shining city on a hill. With the U.S. Semiquincentennial less than two months away, the state Senate held a ceremonial gathering honoring America’s 250th birthday at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. My biggest highlight was spending time and interviewing the winner of my Senate District 25 Student Essay Contest. Bald Eagle Area High School Senior Owen Dechow was chosen as my guest after submitting his enlightening essay on: “What was unique to the general character of The Founders at the time of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States that differentiates them from those at the formation of any other nation?” On a personal level, my visit to both Independence Hall and the National Constitution Center was a once in a lifetime opportunity to focus on how strongly God and the Holy Bible influenced and inspired our Founding Fathers to produce the greatest written framework of government (Constitutional Republic) ever conceived by man. The event marked the fourth meeting in the last 100 years that has taken place outside of the State Capitol in Harrisburg. The previous three meetings were also held in Philadelphia to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1926, the 200th anniversary of the Declaration’s signing in 1976 and the 200th anniversary of the adoption of the U.S. Constitution in 1987. Read more about the historic gathering. Shall Not Be Questioned
On May 6, legislation I sponsored—as Pennsylvania Senate Second Amendment Caucus Chairman—to fully allow for the concealed carrying of legally owned firearms (Senate Bill 357) was advanced (9-5) by the Senate Judiciary Committee, with all five negative votes cast by PA Senate Democrats. Article 1, Section 21 of the Pennsylvania Constitution unquestionably states: “The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.” Unfortunately, as we have seen time and time again in the Democrat-controlled state House, even the most “well-intentioned” or “commonsense” gun laws can rapidly mutate, multiply and come to fruition as tyrannical, Orwellian firearm confiscation and control dictates. Clearly, the safety and welfare of our citizens cannot be guaranteed by criminalizing our most fundamental freedoms by imposing universal background checks, disarming law-abiding citizens in “gun free zones” or allowing the unconstitutional “red flag law” confiscation of legally owned firearms. Advanced to the full Senate for consideration, Senate Bill 357 would fully protect Pennsylvania citizens who follow the law every day and should not be questioned, prosecuted or imprisoned any time they choose to exercise their sacred right to carry a concealed firearm. Additionally on May 6, the full PA Senate further moved to protect the Constitutional rights of law-abiding firearm owners by approving Senate Bill 822. This legislation strengthens Pennsylvania’s state preemption over regulating firearms and ammunition and prevents local governments from enacting ordinances that are more restrictive than those established by the General Assembly. Allowing local governments to establish a patchwork of inconsistent gun laws would make it impossible for Pennsylvania residents, along with citizens from other states, to travel without fear of inadvertently breaking a local law they were unaware of. Senate Bill 822, which passed with bipartisan support, also reinforces and restores the original intent of Pennsylvania’s Uniform Firearms Act, ensuring consistent and clear regulations across the state. The bill has been sent to the House of Representatives for consideration. Senate Approves Tougher Penalties for Attempted Murder of Law Enforcement Officers
The Senate approved legislation closing a gap in state law and imposing tougher penalties on individuals who attempt to murder a law enforcement officer and cause serious bodily injury. Under current law, the penalty for attempted murder of a law enforcement officer could be as little as seven years in prison. Senate Bill 1284 establishes a 20-year mandatory minimum sentence and a maximum of up to life in prison. The measure was passed on Police Officers’ Memorial Day in Pennsylvania, which honors the brave men and women of law enforcement. It now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration. Read more about this legislation. Thirteen Senate Democrats Reject Displaying PA and US Constitution Preambles
On May 4, the PA Senate once again advanced my legislation to provide for Pennsylvania public schools to display the preamble of both the state (Senate Bill 250) and federal (Senate Bill 598) constitutions. Approved 36-13, Senate Bill 250 would fully provide for the posting of the preamble of the Pennsylvania Constitution in the entrance of every taxpayer-funded school building and state-funded institute of higher education. Advanced 38-11, Senate Bill 598 would fully provide for Pennsylvania school districts to display the preamble of our US Constitution at every educational facility that accepts Commonwealth tax dollars. For the record, 13 Senate Democrats voted to reject the educational display of the preambles of the greatest written framework of government ever conceived by man. Both preamble bills now advance to the PA House for consideration. It is my prayer that displaying these constitutional preambles in our schools will motivate students to think for themselves and achieve a deeper understanding of how these founding documents directly impact their everyday lives as Commonwealth and American citizens. |
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