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Monday, September 20, 2010

Onorato Again Slams Corbett On Florida Gun Permit Loophole

Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato, the Democratic nominee for governor, this morning repeated his demand that state Attorney General Tom Corbett, the Republican nominee, use the power of his office to close the "Florida loophole" that allows Pennsylvania residents to obtain permits to carry concealed weapons from the Florida Department of Agriculture. Onorato, speaking in City Hall, made the same argument he made in the same place three months ago. The difference: Now Onorato can point to a Sept. 12 city homicide where the accused shooter was holding a Florida gun permit.

"This is a real problem in Pennsylvania," said Onorato, who was again joined in his news conference by Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams. "Tom Corbett is running for governor. If he thinks this was just a 30-second sound-bite in June than he has another think coming."

Corbett's campaign, which in June derided the issue as a "solution in search of a problem," today accused Onorato of not understanding state gun laws while exploiting a homicide to score political points. Corbett spokesman Kevin Harley said if the Attorney General ended a gun permit reciprocity agreement with Florida that state laws here would still require Pennsylvania to recognize a gun permit issued by a state with equal or more stringent requirements as Pennsylvania.

"This is what voters have come to expect from career politician Dan Onorato," Harley said. "He exploits the death of young man and uses it as a political prop. The fact is the Attorney General cannot unilaterally change the laws of Pennsylvania. Only the legislature can do that."

State Rep. Bryan Lentz, a Delaware County Democrat, has a bill pending in the state House to change that law. Harley said Corbett does not support it and "thinks the Pennsylvania law the way it is now is appropriate."

Posted by Chris Brennan @ 11:54 AM Permalink | 17 comments

Comments

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:11 PM, 09/20/2010

I thought maybe I liked Onorato, but am quickly becoming disenchanted. The guy in question found someone outside his home armed with a tire iron breaking into his car. He unquestionably used too much force to protect his life and property, but the carry permit had nothing to do with it. I don't have a dog in that fight, but Onorato is sounding rather shrill, and should be speaking to issues that we see every day, not these freak incidents.

— Jean Valjean

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:49 PM, 09/20/2010

The criminals have more rights than the regular citizens. Its gotten even worse since the liberals came to power. If I saw someone breaking into my car I would have fired a warning shot into his leg then asked what he thinks he's doing. Corbett might not be the best choice but what choice do we have? Elect an Obama yesman like Onerato? I don't think so.

— psyrus

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:20 PM, 09/20/2010

@psy: ... and then what would you do, drag the bleeding man into your gun locker to wait for the police while you clutched you bible and still smoking gun? Oh, yeah, and offer him a cup of your treasonist tea?

— baworks

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:40 PM, 09/20/2010

Close the loopholes, crack down on dealers and buyers of straw purchases, and track down stolen guns. There are way too many guns and gun-related crimes in my neighborhood.

— Philly Mom

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:47 PM, 09/20/2010

@Jean and @psyrus: Did either of you read the story Onorato was referring to? The guy had his PA gun permit revoked in 2005 on an attempted murder charge and then proceeded to get one through Florida. Whether someone was breaking into his car or not, this criminal shouldn't have had a gun. Onorato is right to call Corbett out. He'd at least be doing his job this way, rather than spending taxpayer money on going after Twitter critics.

— WriteIt37

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:13 PM, 09/20/2010

WriteIt37, Are we now calling "criminal" all people who have been accused of a crime and later not proven guilty? Please tell me when the Bill of Rights was repealed. I didn't know.
Onorato is pointing at ONE instance where a FL permit holder committed a crime here. Is that a valid political issue? On the same day that crime was committed, five other people were shot in Philadelphia, but those crimes are not worthy of Onorato's attention because the people doing the shooting were not identified. Want a worthy political issue? Go after the hundreds of unsolved shootings. This city is turning into a target gallery, and most of the shooters are not licensed - here, in Florida or eanywhere else.

— DonQ

Comment removed.

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:35 PM, 09/20/2010

IT is stupid to allow a PA resident to get a FLA. gun permit to carry a gun in PA. Having the law this way makes no sense whatsoever. FLA. can authorize someone to carry a gun in FLA. under their law. PA has no obligation to respect that in PA. If you want to carry a gun in PA, you should have to have a PA permit!

— ricky

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:57 PM, 09/20/2010

I believe this is a non-issue for this race. I do agree that it is stupid to allow another state to issue permits that are valid in PA. This loophole should be closed.

— Phishinmule

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:26 PM, 09/20/2010

ricky- ever drive out of state with your PA drivers license?

— PhilliePhan

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:57 PM, 09/20/2010

This is a Philadelphia problem Mr.Onorato not a Pennsylvania problem and the rest of the state hates Philadelphia.You see yourself losing so you cry out to the black vote in Philadelphia in desperation. Ask fast Eddie or the Big "O" too come help your campaign sorry bad idea.The average citizen in this state is tired of the Democrats and your insults and elitist ways we will show you how tired we are in November

— bobg1812

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:07 PM, 09/20/2010

Is Onorato so short of real issues that he needs a bogus one to advance his campaign? ONE alleged crime has been linked to a FL firearms license. Is the matter even worthy of discussion?

— DonQ

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:31 PM, 09/20/2010

There was an article in July about a guy with a Florida permit who had been convicted of robbing someone at gunpoint in 2008, but Florida still had not revoked the permit 2 years later, despite requests by the PPD to do so. That's right, there is at least one person serving time in PA prison for a gun felony who still has a legal concealed carry permit from Florida. We really don't know how many people may have Florida permits in PA because Florida will not provide that information. It also seems that Florida does not keep track of the out-of-state permits once they are issued. Since Florida does not provide the information, the only time a PA jurisdiction learns of a Florida permit is when it is presented to them.

— plugh

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:48 PM, 09/20/2010

While Florida does check for felony records when issuing an out-of-state permit, they do not check psych records or even restraining orders (though they do check those things for in-state permits). I think most would agree that these are valid reasons to refuse a permit. While PA is accepting FL out-of-state permits, FL does not recognize out-of-state permits issued by any other states. Corbett, as PA AG, has the authority to refuse to accept out-of-state permits just like Florida and many other states have. Only the AG has this authority, not even the Governor. Otherwise, it must be done by a new state law.

— plugh

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 5:48 PM, 09/20/2010

— plugh

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About The Philly Clout Team

Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.

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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com

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Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002 and has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. After covering the 2007 mayoral election, she moved over to the City Hall bureau where she has been reporting on the Nutter administration.

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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans.

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