Newspaper targets GOP lawmakers who support gun rights

In case you missed it, The Philadelphia Inquirer is going after nine Philadelphia-area lawmakers who did not support a gun control bill that failed to pass the Pennsylvania House earlier this week.

Amendment A06178 (reporting lost and stolen guns) to House Bill 1845 was defeated by a 128-75 margin. The vote did not sit well with gun-control advocates in Philadelphia.

Here's the mini-editorial from The Inquirer:

Remember their names

House Speaker Dennis O'Brien (R., Phila.) thumbed his nose at his city constituents Tuesday by helping to defeat a measure aimed at stemming the tide of illegal handguns. He was joined in defeating the bill requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen weapons by eight other Republican lawmakers from the suburbs.

There ought to be a political price paid by O'Brien et al for their obstinate resistance to a gun-safety measure supported by police, prosecutors and Gov. Rendell. Voters should contact them, and remember them at the polls on Nov. 4.

Here's the "no" voters' dishonor roll: O'Brien, Stephen Barrar (R., Delaware), Paul Clymer (R., Bucks), Gene DiGirolamo (R., Bucks), Robert Godshall (R., Montgomery), Art Hershey (R., Chester), Bob Mensch (R., Montgomery), Scott Petri (R., Bucks), and Thomas J. Quigley (R., Montgomery).

The problem with the proliferation of guns is not caused by gun owners who purchased their weapons legally. This misguided bill would penalize law-abiding citizens who have every right to own a gun.

The real problem with gun violence in Philadelphia is the thugs who control city streets. It's a problem of law enforcement. Mayor Michael Nutter has been all talk so far when it comes to cracking down on crime. Blaming lawful gun owners for the city's crime is a smokescreen by liberal politicians and their allies in the news media.

The Inky also ran an article with this headline, "Gun-control advocates undeterred by another legislative loss"