One Harrisburg Insider Sees Little Future for Phila. Gun Laws

One Harrisburg Insider Sees Little Future for Phila. Gun Laws

The lawyer for Republican leaders in the Pennsylvania state senate says the City Council gun ordinances passed on Thursday (see related story) are likely to be challenged in court -- but not necessarily by state lawmakers.

Stephen MacNett, general counsel for the state senate Republican leaders, says there’s already a court case pending on Philadelphia gun issues that may resolve the matters raised by Council’s most recent action.

But if not, he adds:

“I don't expect, at this particular stage, that this part of the General Assembly will be initiating a suit against Philadelphia. Frankly, I think that will come soon enough from the first person that’s cited under one of these ordinances”

MacNett says the Pennsylvania state Supreme Court has previously ruled, in a Philadelphia gun case from the mid-'90s, that the legislature has primacy over local government when it comes to gun laws.

And although the composition of the state high court has changed, he thinks it would rule the same way again.

MacNett called Philadelphia City Council’s action "disappointing."