W. Pa. lawmaker wants to scrap state’s concealed-carry law for gun owners | Tuesday Morning Coffee

Good Tuesday Morning, Fellow Seekers.

Reminding us that half of life is simply showing up, we give you state Rep. Aaron Bernstine.

On Monday, as hundreds of gun rights advocates descended on the Capitol, the western Pennsylvania Republican saw an opportunity — and he ran with it.

In a statement released by his office, the Lawrence County lawmaker says he’s rolling out ‘Constitutional Carry‘ (ahhh … see what he did there?) legislation that would “no longer require law-abiding citizens to obtain a license to carry a concealed firearm in Pennsylvania.”

The way Bernstine sees it, if someone passes a criminal background check, it’s “patently unjust and unconstitutional to add layers of bureaucratic regulations on those who are least likely to commit a crime. The current process is a duplicative abuse of the constitutional rights of law-abiding gun owners.”

So, we get it, you’re a gun owner. You don’t want the man hassling any more than he already does about your God-given right to carry a blunderbuss in your coat pocket.

Well, be warned, if Bernstine’s proposal becomes law, and you decide to get all constitutional about things, fewer than 10 states will allow you to carry a concealed weapon without a permit.

Bernstine’s bill would get around this potential roadblock by allowing gun-owners to obtain an optional concealed carry permit that would be valid in other states that have reciprocity agreements with Pennsylvania. Which, when you think about it, actually sounds more unnecessary and duplicative than the burden that Bernstine is trying to relieve.

“Pennsylvanians that follow the law each day should not be punished or hindered just because they prefer to carry their weapon concealed,” said Bernstine.

But the rest of us would feel a lot better knowing they had to pass some minimum standard.

Our Stuff.

In this week’s edition of The Numbers Racket, Sarah Anne Hughes reminds us that the brain-drain is an old problem for Pennsylvania.
State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler, thinks Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto should be impeached for signing those gun-control bills into law, Elizabeth Hardison reports.
A state House panel has advanced that Down syndrome abortion ban bill, Stephen Caruso reports.
We went to Metcalfe’s annual 2nd Amendment rally and found it … lacking … in concrete solutions to America’s gun violence epidemic.

On our Commentary Page, Anwar Curtis profiles the very good work by the Harrisburg advocacy group, Breaking the Chainz. And Dickinson College historian Karl Qualls explains how easy it is for mankind to go from conspiracy theory to hatred to genocide 

Elsewhere.
The Inquirer profiles Sen. Tony Williams ‘insurgent’ run for mayor.
A family with measles passed through at least five public places, Allegheny County health officials tell The Post-Gazette.
Pennsylvania ranks second in the nation for the number of structurally deficient bridges, PennLive reports. Several of them are in central Pennsylvania.
Easton’s Democratic mayoral candidates debated Monday night. The Morning Call has the story.

Here’s your #Philadephia Instagram of the Day.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BxGaC1uHQFS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

A new super PAC is working on behalf of Philly mayor Jim Kenney, WHYY-FM reports.
Rep. Brian Sims, D-Philadelphia, is taking heat for berating an anti-abortion protester on video, the AP reports (via WITF-FM).
Stateline.org looks at states’ efforts to reduce drug prices.
Politico profiles the Republicans ‘pulling for Bernie.’
“Democrats will run into trouble if they spend their time chasing the coalition they relied on before Trump,” Roll Call’s Stu Rothenberg opines.

What Goes On.
The House gavels in at 11 a.m., the Senate at its customary 1 p.m.
8 a.m., Main Rotunda: Building Safety Month event
9 a.m., Main Rotunda: Pa. Legislative Black Caucus Sickle Cell Awareness Day
9 a.m., Capitol Plaza, House Side: Groundbreaking for annual Capitol Hunger Garden
9 a.m., Capitol Steps: Birthday Party for the ‘Earned Income Tax Credit’
9:30 a.m, Media Center: Task Force on Lead Exposure
10 a.m,  Main Rotunda: Pa. Rare Disease Awareness Day event
11 a.m, Main Rotunda: Pa. Coalition Against Rape and Pa. Coalition Against Domestic Violence annual Advocacy Day
11:30 a.m., Media Center: PennEnvironment on transitioning to all renewable energy
12 p.m., Main Rotunda: American Lung Association Advocacy Day
2 p.m., Main Rotunda: Teach PA Schools event (shouldn’t that be … in school … ???)

What Goes On (Nakedly Political Edition).
7:30 a.m.: Breakfast for Sen. Judy Ward
8 a.m.: Breakfast for Rep. Joe Emrick
8 a.m.: Breakfast for Sen. Art Haywood
6 p.m.: Reception for Rep. Barry Jozwiak
Ride the circuit, and give at the max, and you’re out a mere $6,500 today.

WolfWatch.
Gov. Tom Wolf has no public schedule today.

Heavy Rotation.
Here’s a bit of sunny French pop to get your Tuesday morning going. It’s L’imperatrice with ‘Agitations Tropicales.’

Tuesday’s Gratuitous Hockey Link.
Boston blanked Columbus 3-0 on Monday, securing their spot in the Eastern Conference final against Carolina.

And now you’re up to date.