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by 1HotTamale from Mount Airy, Philadelphia, PA

Last Post 223 days, 15 hours Ago


Philadelphia, NJ!?
Apr 12, 2008 | 12:53 PM
Category: Political
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I found out something in the news today that got me very politically excited! The new mayor of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter, ALONG with the Philadelphia City Council UNANIMOUSLY passed several gun laws for the City at an attempt to curb the gun violence that our City is infamous for. This move (although I STRONGLY agree with it and support it) is a VERY BOLD MOVE as it defies Pennsylvania state laws.

The majority of the state of Pennsylvania is conservative/republican. This is true with the exeption of Pennsylvania's Cities of Philadelphia, Allentown, Scranton, and Pittsburgh. Often times it is because of the state's urban enclaves that the State appears to be a "Blue State" in National elections (as was the case in the 2004 elections, for example in which Pennsylvania did vote for John Kerry). Anyway, as such, a typical conservative value is lax gun laws which appeases those who live in rural sections of the state who like to hunt. Not only do I disagree with the idea of hunting for sport for animal rights reasons, I personally believe that ensuring City Resident's safety and quality of life should be of more importance than a hunter's rights to hunt. The state, along with conservative groups such as the NRA have already vowed to sue the City for passing these tougher gun laws.

Mind you, the laws would only be effective within the City of Philadelphia, yet the state does EVERYTHING in its power to annoy the City of Philadelphia and are unwilling to compromise! The City originally used to try to push ideas that would be statewide. Eventually, the City concluded that its values and the state's values are just too different and they would pretty much never agree. Therefore, the City suggested enacting several of its own laws that would be excusive within the City, such as tougher gun laws. (Which, by the way is a horribly flawed idea! Criminals would only go into the suburbs and purchase weapons and bring them back into the City. But any effort to at least try to lesson the problem is PROGRESS!) The state has over and over again rejected the City's requests to enact its own gun laws within the state. WHY!? In my opinion, it is simply defiance and antagonism!

Anther Philadelphia versus Pennsylvania issue that is happening is that the state is pretty much forcing Philadelphia to build casinos despite City Resident's strong opposal to the idea. I admit, when I first heard about the casinos possibly being built, I thought it was a great idea! The area of the waterfront that the Casinos are proposed to be built on is underdeveloped, and the proposed casinos do seem to be visually attractive. However, residents feel as though it would increase crime and lower quality of life. Regardless of the reason, the immediate resident's would have to live with this everyday and thier voice and opinion should matter! Many of the casino opponents even attempted to compromise with the state and ask that the casinos be built in an area that was not residential. Again, the state will never budge or compromise with the City. Philadelphia then defied Pennsylvania and passed laws at an attempt to block the zoning of the casinos. Pennsylvania then stepped in an bullied Philadelphia by stating that only the State can block the zoning and the City has no choice but to approve the zoning. UGH! I wonder if Pennsylvania would have been so unwilling to compromise had the casinos been proposed to be built in "Smalltown" Pennsylvania and thier residents opposed the idea!

An idea I've fantasized about is the idea of having Philadelphia secede from the state of Pennsylvania and join it's neighbor to the east... THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY. Philadelphia has more politically in common with New Jersey, anyway, AND Pennsylvania RARELY (if ever) does anything to make the City happy.

I believe this will be a win- (Philadelphia), win- (New Jersey), win- (Pennsylvania) situation as New Jersey already has stricter gun laws that our City is seeking. New Jersey already has Casinos in Atlantic City so Philadelphia can look into developing its waterfront with ideas that will make its residents happy. New Jersey has long attempted to lure Philadelphia businesses to their State, many times succeeding. New Jersey is also more Liberal, just as our City with laws protecting gay rights and abolishing the death penalty. I also believe that the current existing New Jersey would be happy promoting tourism and supporting it's sports teams of it's newly acquired largest City! Philadelphia will have a new state that actually agrees with their values, and because of that will more likely listen to the City's requests and will probably approve them. As for Pennsylvania (minus Philadelphia), the state will finally not have to deal with those "annoying Philadelphia Liberals" (... like me, LOL!) 


Philadelphia has tried to work with the state of Pennsylvania for a long time, and the state is never even willing to compromise. Despite what is said in the media about Philadelphia's crime, I live here, and it is really a kewl City and I encourage outsiders to visit our City although our state SUCKS! Most who live here and/or visit here frequently for leisure (like Suburban Philadelphia, New Jersey, and Delaware) would agree that or City (particularly Center City) is a great place to enjoy... if you can find some place to park, LOL! (A future blog on that issue, probably!)

Imagine... PHILADELPHIA, NJ! THE LARGEST CITY IN... NEW JERSEY!!!

(PHILADELPHIANS! PENNSYLVANIANS! NEW JERSIANS! WHAT DO YOU THINK!?)

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Member Comments Total Comments: 16
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ibejim read my blog view my photos
Apr 13, 2008 | 9:13 AM

I think your wrong, of course. Please explain what a law abiding citizen's constitutional right to bear arms and hunt in rural PA has to so with Philly's ILLEGAL Gun problem?

BTW...the next time you see someone hunting in rural PA with a hand gun, let me know. I'm mot a hunter, but I'd like to see that trick!

Unfettered gun laws simply give power to the criminal, and remove the law abiding citizens ability to defend themselves. Remember the 'black market'?
superpro
Apr 21, 2008 | 12:56 AM

To whom it should concern
In case you haven’t heard it’s against the constitution and the right to bear arms is a federal law The so called mayor and his cronies have broken the law by trying to override the law and are subject to criminal prosecution unless they are above the law they should be prosecuted like any other person in the country the problem with Philadelphia city government is they think they can do anything they want just because they are "THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA" they routinely break state and federal laws regularly I want to hear how Lynn Abraham get away with not filing charges against the mayor and his cronies. JUST TREAT THEM LIKE YOU DO THE AVERAGE CITIZEN here in the city.
SuperPro
In Phila
PS for the guy who said he wanted to see someone hunting with a handgun wake up there has always been hunting with handguns in PA. They have both regular handguns and black powder hand guns for hunting. Wake up Dude.
Criminals aren’t worried about any laws make tougher laws when they catch a convicted felon and enforce them
ibejim read my blog view my photos
Apr 21, 2008 | 8:27 AM

Superpro.....I see you completely missed the point I was trying to make with that statement, Point being, the vast majority of illegal gun crimes committed in the city are with pistols. The vast majority of hunters use RIFLES! That being said, I'd still like to see a hunter take down deer with a pistol. Now, another blogger has make me aware that there are special hand guns, high caliber, single shot, scoped, and fitted with some sort of modified stock, designed for hunting, but they wouldn't be to practical in the city, would they?
1HotTamale read my blog
Apr 21, 2008 | 4:40 PM

Well. Although I disagree with the Second Amendment, although it is in the Constitution does not automatically make it right. That is the reason there are Amendments to the Constitution! I won't go as far as to say gun ownership should be ILLEGAL. But to have something written like "the right to bear arms" I think sends the wrong message. Wasn't that originally written anyway as a means to defend the Colonists from the British? In 2008, it is no longer needed! New York, New Jersey, and Washington DC all have tough gun laws! Canada does not have an equivalent to the American Second Amendment and I'm sure there are hunters out there, too. What the Repubs and the NRA are doing against the City is out of pure Selfishness! Besides, I bet not many City dwellers (like me) are hunters anyway, so why should they care!? KUDOS TO MAYOR NUTTER AND PHILADELPHIA CITY COUNCIL!!!
ibejim read my blog view my photos
Apr 21, 2008 | 10:34 PM

The city of Philadelphia needs to stop blaming their ILLEGAL Gun problems on the NRA and take responsibility for their own failures.

Also, The second amendment was not written as a temporary solution. No longer needed? I pray you don't have to find out the hard way why you are wrong.

Make the criminal think twice before he decides to use a gun, and stop trying to making the law abiding citizen pay the price because you cannot manage this illegal gun problem!

Take the power away from the criminal! Don't assist him in gaining the advantage!
1HotTamale read my blog
Apr 22, 2008 | 8:31 PM

Your way of doing things has been the case now for decades... IT'S NOT WORKING! Just like Republican foreign policy, economic policy, civil rights policies... everything they do is a MESS! Criminals have to get their guns from somewhere, and I doubt very seriously that they are mannufacturing them, themselves! They have to get them from a legal means in one way or another! Why would anyone need to purchase more than one gun a month? Personally, I even think that one gun a month is too high (the main reason I support John Dougherty for PA State Senate as he agrees with this stance). Republicans are very selfish people! They believe in no help for the poor, no help for the sick (stem cell research), underfunded schools, discrimination of gays, tax cuts for people who don't need them and don't ask for them, and nothing to curb crime but the DEATH PENALTY! You guys are evil people and you marginalize everyone! Why base laws around Christian faith in a country that is supposed to promote religious freedom!? I am a Protestant, but I respect Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Budists, Wiccans, Agnostics... WHATEVER! It's not fair! In Pennsyl-tuckey you marginalize Philadelphia! YES, I AM A FLAMMIN' LIBERAL!!! We need to do something to stop violence in Philadelphia. We need tough gun laws! If we don't get them I think we (the City) needs to seceed from the state. Who's with me? We need to have a government that respects its constituents and tends to their needs! We're talking life and death here with these guns! You want to create a small army for your little silly game of animal c
1HotTamale read my blog
Apr 22, 2008 | 8:35 PM

... (cut of from my previous post) You want to create a small army for your little silly game of animal cruelty at the expense of murder on the streets of Philadelphia! WE NEED CHANGE! And the Liberals (such as the Democrats and Green Party) will do just that!
ibejim read my blog view my photos
Apr 22, 2008 | 10:55 PM

First of all, I am neither a republican nor a hunter, but, I am a conservative.

Do republicans run most of the the major cities that have these problems?

Republican foreign policy - How is that not working? The liberal policy of the last administration resulted in what? Mogadishu? Letting Al Qaeda establish a terrorist stronghold in Afghanistan, Where the terrorist where harbored and trained for 9/11? And there's more.

economic policy - The economy went into the toilet after who took control of congress?

civil rights policies..How so? Examples and proof please.

tax cuts for people who don't need them and don't ask for them....Are you speaking of the same people who pay 90 percent of federal income tax's?...
ibejim read my blog view my photos
Apr 22, 2008 | 11:03 PM

...discrimination of gays...Because we want them to call their union something other than marriage?

GUNS DON'T KILL, PEOPLE DO!! And that is where the problem lies, so correct it there.

You rant about Republicans is utterly lacking in substance.
ibejim read my blog view my photos
Apr 22, 2008 | 11:06 PM

Liberal policies and judges are the criminals friend.
1HotTamale read my blog
Apr 23, 2008 | 12:44 AM

Do you think that Democrats cause crime? That does not even make sense, dude! I would not even go as far as to say the repubs cause crime, they just neglect it. So that argument is WAY out in left field! Repubs don't even have any major cities. Everyone knows that liberals have the best cities not just in the US, but WORLDWIDE!

In my former state of Rhode Island, one of the most LIBERAL states in the country, the crime rate was SIGNIFICANTLY lower, and there weren't nary a repub to offend the eye! So your argument that democrats and liberal policies cause crime is dismissed. Not to mention places like Canada where the crime rate is also much lower... yup... controlled by... L-L-LIBEREALS!

Nope! When President Clinton left office we were respected thoughout the world. The country did not go around bullying everyone else! People in this country aren't happy with the way the repubs handles things (refer to election day 2006).

Last I checked, too, there was a surplus in the economy when Clinton left office! Not to mention the economy was much stronger!

Your argument that "guns don't kill, people do" that is what guns were created for... KILLING!If you don't think we should toughen gun laws, what should be done then?

Your republican't rant is lacking, buddy! And I bet the country will prove it in November! Traditional red states like Virginia and Kansas now have DEMOCRATIC governors! (Kansas has a BRILLIANT governor, by the way!)
ibejim read my blog view my photos
Apr 23, 2008 | 10:28 AM

Where did I say the Dems caused crime? They simply don't do a good job of deterring crime.

Please don't start with the wounderful willie nonsense. He INHERITED a good economy! Which The Rebublican congress aided during his reign, Remember, congress makes the laws, NOT the president. Also, the economy was in much better shape in 2006, before THEY took over. (check Jan. 2007).

"When President Clinton left office we were respected thoughout the world"....

Is that why Americans were attacked by terrorist 6 times, worldwide, while he was president? The man who butchered defense and intelligence spending when we needed it most? The man who looked you in the eye, and lied , blantanly, to your face? The man who had Sandy Berger burn classified intel docs? This list too, goes on and on.

"if you don't think we should toughen gun laws, what should be done then?..

Perhaps deal with the problem where it starts? in the family environment? Teach these criminals some respect for the law and their fellow citizens, perhaps? Maybe make them think twice before using an illegal weapon?

Should we stop driving cars because people use them Irresponsibly?
ibejim read my blog view my photos
Apr 23, 2008 | 10:50 AM

"Repubs don't even have any major cities. Everyone knows that liberals have the best cities not just in the US, but WORLDWIDE!

Maybe if the republicans did, These cities would be in much better shape. Again, who controls these cities? Where the crime rate is sky high,(not just gun crime) people are afraid to walk out their front doors, Fatherless children abound, garbage plies up in the streets, ect. You certainly haven't
stepped up to the plate in ALL the years you've reigned in these cities!

If you liberals spent half as much time and effort on dealing with these crimes, as you do shifting blame and trying to take away innocent, law abiding citizens rights, things might improve!
ibejim read my blog view my photos
Apr 23, 2008 | 1:57 PM

"Ten years ago this month, a controversial "concealed- carry" law went into effect in the state of Florida. In a sharp break from the conventional wisdom of the time, that law allowed adult citizens to carry concealed firearms in public. Many people feared the law would quickly lead to disaster: blood would literally be running in the streets. Now, 10 years later, it is safe to say that those dire predictions were completely unfounded. Indeed, the debate today over concealed-carry laws centers on the extent to which such laws can actually reduce the crime rate."

"to the shock and dismay of gun control proponents, concealed-carry reform has proven to be wildly popular among state lawmakers. Since Florida launched its experiment with concealed-carry in October 1987, 23 states have enacted similar laws, with positive results".
ibejim read my blog view my photos
Apr 23, 2008 | 2:11 PM

That study that quote was taken from was done 11 years ago, by the Cato institute, and still holds true today.

The government cannot always protect us. Don't let them remove our ability to protect ourselves!
1HotTamale read my blog
Apr 23, 2008 | 7:06 PM

Whatever! Republicans and their wicked policies SUCK! We are taking over! GET OVER IT! The future looks bright. I'm moving on. What do we have govenment for if they are not going to look after their constituents? To make sure rich people continue to get richer? We can agree to disagree, I am a Flammin' LIBERAL and PROUD OF IT!
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1HotTamale

I spend most of my time in Mount Airy where I live, or in South Philly.

Member Since: 4/12/2008


 

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