Nutter breaks the law, cops go along with it, DA won't prosecute...

[Airman_Doors_USAF]

…it’s just another day in the City of Brotherly Love.

City Solicitor Shelley Smith today challenged in court the standing of the National Rifle Association to sue Philadelphia for a package of five gun-control laws passed by City Council on April 10 and signed immediately into law by Mayor Nutter.

Further complicating matters, Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey had vowed to enforce the local laws before the restraining order but District Attorney Lynne Abraham said she would not prosecute anyone arrested for violating them.

Pennsylvania has preemption with respect to gun laws, so I don’t know how anybody could have expected this to go any other way. Nutter is going to lose, but that’s not stopping him and the City Council from trying a new, innovative approach. Get this:
[

The Philadelphia City Council unanimously passed eight gun control laws on May 3, and has filled suit against the state General Assembly for control over city gun regulations.

](http://www.pbs.org/weta/washingtonweek/voices/200705/0511local0.htm)

It’s not every day you sue a legislative body for doing nothing, let alone following the laws of the state they are representing. Preemption is a done deal and it has stood scrutiny regularly. This is yet another fruitless lawsuit. But hey, at least they can stop and frisk people, because shaking people down for being in the wrong neighborhood is always the way to go, and with 65% support (i.e. the people NOT in the wrong neighborhoods) what could possibly go wrong?

Ah, Philadelphia. If only we could give Rendell back and build a gigantic wall around the city, things would be so much better. Alas, it is not to be. I’m sure we’ll see more from Nutter (and what an apropos name that is) in the future, so stay tuned.

[danceswithcats]

Heh-it really doesn’t surprise me. Frank Rizzo has to be rolling in his grave over this crap.

[Chimera]

@danceswithcats

Heh-it really doesn’t surprise me. Frank Rizzo has to be rolling in his grave over this crap.

How fast is he spinning and can we harness him for electrical generation?
Pretty much they’re going to lose. No sane and reasonable court is going to rule that an entity within a state can supercede state laws with their own.

[danceswithcats]

@Chimera

Pretty much they’re going to lose. No sane and reasonable court is going to rule that an entity within a state can supercede state laws with their own.

Of course. However, this lets Nutter and the other do nothings in Philly government thump the tub and claim they’re getting tough on crime, while actually doing bupkis.

[astro]

Not just for guns in PA

Pennsylvania
In May 2007, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled that Pennsylvania’s Clean Indoor Air Act of 1988 prevented all local governments, except the city governments of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, from restricting smoking beyond existing state law, which does not ban smoking in all workplaces, in bars, or in restaurants.[68] The court’s decision specifically nullified smoking bans in Erie County, Allegheny County, and Scranton.[69]