Court Strikes Down Law That Let NRA Sue Pa. Cities [View all]
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer
A Commonwealth Court has struck down the new state law that let the NRA and other third parties sue Pennsylvania cities for their gun restrictions.
The law is "unconstitutional and void," the court said in Thursday morning's ruling.
The law known as Act 192 passed last year, had been challenged by a coalition of cities (including Philadelphia) and lawmakers. The challenge was based on the process used to pass it: The bill was originally written to create penalties for the theft of copper wiring late during the legislative session it was gutted and repurposed as a gun bill. Critics said that violated the Pennsylvania Constitution, which requires that a bill not be amended in a way that changes its original purpose, and that bills passed by the legislature contain only a single subject.
That order should bring an end to several lawsuits that had been filed under Act 192; the NRA had sued the cities of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Lancaster under the act, but the suit had been stayed pending the Commonwealth Court's ruling on the act's legitimacy.
Read more: http://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/06/25/nra-law-pennsylvania-struck-down
This lobbying arm of the GOP can be beaten.