From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Pittsburgh’s three gun-control ordinances will not be enforced until after legal proceedings, according to an order issued by an Allegheny County Common Pleas judge Monday.
All parties agreed to the stay during a Monday morning meeting held in Judge Joseph James’ chambers between city lawyers and legal counsel representing the plaintiffs.
Judge James is expected to issue the stay Monday.
If you’ll remember, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto embarked on a personal gun control jihad following the Tree of Life synagogue shooting. His main goal was challenging Pennsylvania’s preemption law that prevents Pittsburgh and any other city in the state from enacting gun control laws that are more restrictive than those in force at the state level.
Peduto and the Pittsburgh city council flouted the state law and enacted an “assault weapons” ban, magazine capacity limits and red flag confiscation.
Hizzoner’s goal was to get the state’s Supreme Court to invalidate the preemption law by picking a legal fight.
As soon as Peduto signed the local laws, the city and council members were sued. Three times, to be precise.
Now, as the Post-Gazette is reporting, things are proceeding just as Peduto envisioned.
“That’s consistent with the city’s goal all along, which is to put this in front of the court, let the courts decide whether these ordinances are permissible under Pennsylvania law,” said Eric Tirschwell, an attorney with gun-control advocacy organization Everytown Law who is representing the city pro bono. “The city is not looking to prejudice anyone while those decisions are made. That’s why the city entered into the agreement today.”
No, the city isn’t looking to “prejudice” (i.e. prosecute) anyone under the new restrictions, because once that happens, citizens can then swear out a complaint against the mayor and city council members for violating state law. And that might unduly inconvenience the elected officials.
The judge’s order prevents the law from being enforced while the cases wind their way through the courts. Meanwhile, a state representative has begun the process of impeaching Peduto over his flagrant disregard for the law.
We’ll be watching this process play out, and so should you.