Pa. Supreme Court Hears Arguments On Law That Would Allow NRA To Sue Local Govt.
By Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday on a law that would allow a private lobbying group to sue local governments, including Philadelphia.
The issue was how the bill passed the legislature.
An amendment giving the National Rifle Association the right to sue local governments that attempt their own gun control was tacked on to a bill that increased penalties for copper theft. Senator Daylin Leach challenged the law under the state constitution provision that requires legislation to have a single subject.
"That's to prevent people from having to vote on bills that do something really good and really bad that have nothing to do with each other," Senator Leach said.
Leach won in Commonwealth court, but the bill's sponsors appealed, saying both provisions fall under "regulating crime."
The justices seemed skeptical, repeatedly asking for the connection between copper theft and creating a new class of civil plaintiff. But, speaking for the sponsors, Drew Crompton says he's optimistic.
"This is a tough court, we understand that," Crompton said, "but I thought it went fine."