Senator Pat Toomey's E-Update

FRIDAY, APRIL 12, 2013

The Public Safety & Second Amendment Rights Protection Act This week, I worked with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to forge a common sense bill to help protect our communities from criminals and the mentally ill while at the same time protecting our cherished Second Amendment rights. Pennsylvania has a long, bipartisan tradition of supporting gun rights. I am a proud part of that tradition. I am a gun owner. I revere the rights enshrined in our Second Amendment. My record shows this. Criminal background checks are common sense. If you pass a criminal background check, you can buy a gun. It's the people who fail a criminal or mental health background check that we don't want having guns. This can be done without infringing on law-abiding people's gun rights. This bill will not take away anyone's guns. It will not ban any type of firearm. It does not ban or restrict the use of any kind of bullet or any size clip or magazine. The bill will not create a national registry; in fact, it specifically makes it illegal to establish any such registry. I invite you to read a summary of my proposed amendment here as well as the full text here. I thank everyone who took time to share their thoughts with me and my staff on this issue. As always, I appreciate hearing from you. I will continue to listen to your thoughts and concerns on this, and on every issue.   Working To Fix Our National Debt I met with members of the Pennsylvania chapter of Fix The Debt, an organization that advocates a bipartisan solution to our nation's debt through reform of taxes, entitlements and government spending. Pennsylvania's chapter is co-chaired by T. J. Rooney, a former state representative from Northampton County and immediate past chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. Thom Rippon, a central Pennsylvania entrepreneur and former GOP candidate for lieutenant governor, is the other co-chair. Our government is heading toward a fiscal crisis and now is not the time to take out yet another credit card. The fact is, we have a burden of debt that is costing us jobs and economic growth in this country. We don't have the luxury of simply passing the tab to our children and grandchildren and continuing to borrow and spend as usual. I appreciate hearing from members of Fix The Debt about how we can rein in out-of-control spending and form ideas to fix our long-term debt and deficits. Former PA Democratic Party chair T. J. Rooney agrees: "In order to solve the nation's big problems, it's going to require bipartisan solutions. I am grateful to Senator Toomey for taking the time to hear our thoughts and for allowing us to explain that millions of Pennsylvanians and Americans lie in the middle. We appreciate Senator Toomey's thoughtful approach." Touring Lehigh County's Anti-Crime Center At Lehigh County's new anti-crime center, with program manager Julia Kocis and District Attorney Jim Martin. With District Attorney Jim Martin, I toured the Lehigh County Regional Intelligence and Investigation Center, a high-technology crime-fighting unit in Allentown. The center's state-of-the-art techniques and technology are designed to help law enforcement stop gang and drug activity and enhance public safety. Lehigh County's Intelligence and Investigation Center is a real force multiplier in helping our law enforcement team fight crime. The center assists in gathering data from police forces in the region and the state, giving officers here in Lehigh County the ability to communicate with others and exchange tips and best practices. It also provides our policemen and women on the street more tools as they work to keep families safe. Honoring Penn State's 150th Anniversary It was my pleasure to offer remarks into the Senate record congratulating Penn State on its 150th anniversary. The sesquicentennial is a significant milestone for the history of one of our state's most beloved institutions. To Penn State families, you make the commonwealth a better place, and I am confident the next 150 years of accomplishments will be even greater than the last. (You can read my full remarks here.)   HOW CAN I HELP? EMAIL US FEDERAL GRANTS VISITING D.C. FLAG REQUESTS FEDERAL AGENCY HELP MORE WHERE I STAND Budget, Jobs & the Economy Education Energy Health Care Israel and the Middle East Life, Family and Marriage National Security and Defense Veterans IN THE NEWS News Photo Blog Video Audio Official Photos Newsletter Archive

PLEASE CONTACT SENATOR TOOMEY AT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING OFFICES: ALLENTOWN, PA PH: (610) 434-1444 ERIE, PA PH: (814) 453-3010 HARRISBURG, PA PH: (717) 782-3951 JOHNSTOWN, PA PH: (814) 266-5970 PHILADELPHIA, PA PH: (215) 241-1090 PITTSBURGH, PA PH: (412) 803-3501 SCRANTON, PA PH: (570) 941-3540 WASHINGTON, D.C. PH: (202) 224-4254