Nonresidents actually have more freedom than residents in Pennsylvania when it comes to carrying a firearm.
Nonresidents can apply in any county for a license to carry. The only caveat is that they need a license from their home state, if their state issues one, but residents must apply in the county where they live. That means for Philadelphians, the poorly run Gun Permit Unit is the only place they can go.
No Pennsylvanian really wants to have to go to Florida just for the purpose of carrying in Pennsylvania, but because of how the Gun Permit Unit adds on requirements to the application not found in law, interrogates applicants, uses old arrests (with no convictions) to issue denials and explicitly threatens new licensees with all manner of ways licenses will be revoked, going out of state is simply a surer solution, despite the more difficult requirements and extra costs.
David R. Green
Eastern regional committee president
Firearms Owners Against Crime PAC
Presto, Pa.
Good piece on cop-shootings
I thank Jonathan Josey so very much for his op-ed on police shootings. No matter what officers do in today's world, they always wind up on the defensive.
I'm familiar with what that piece is all about. My son-in-law is a sergeant on the Lancaster City police force and also on their CERT team. Lancaster City is not Amish country, to say the least.
The problems that exist in the cities today come from different sources: no positive influence in the home, laxity in the schools, the number of homes without two parents, many children "raised" by others than their natural parents. I say a prayer for you guys and girls every night.
Tom Woodruff, Oreland
Education & crime
It's essential that the state continue to fund full-day kindergarten. Inmates in county jails lack socialization skills, and, for employment purposes, are uneducated. This escalates if they enter the state correctional system.
The buck has to begin in the early stages. More cost-effective and productive outcomes can be achieved up the education ladder. If the buck stops at the early-education level, it increases the cost at the criminal justice and prison level.
John F.X. Lieb, Philadelphia
Take that, GOPers!
President Obama gets Osama! How are Republicans going to put a negative spin on that?
Randolph Husava, Philadelphia
