Philadelphia is a city plagued by violent crime. Now the city’s mayor wants to disarm law-abiding citizens’ right to protection.
Democrat Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney banned weapons in all city recreation facilities via a new executive order, Breitbart reported. The prohibition even applies to concealed carry permit holders who would otherwise lawfully be allowed to bear arms.
Kenney signed the order Tuesday while touting the draconian crackdown. “This gives them some protection, some peace of mind, some ability to call the authorities when some knucklehead decides they want to bring a gun into a rec center, and they see it, that’s part of what this is about,” the mayor explained.
Guns and other weapons will not be allowed in Philadelphia athletic courts, playgrounds, fields, pools, or inside any recreation center under the new order. Signs will be erected to warn patrons of this new rule and threaten legal action for those who disobey.
District Attorney Larry Krasner has said that anyone flouting the prohibition would be charged with trespassing. “Even if you have a permit to carry, and you go on those premises, then you’ve got a problem with me.”
However, the order will likely not survive a legal challenge. Philadelphia is subject to the preemption statute, which means it may not put limits on firearms that conflict with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s laws.
The mayor previously suggested nobody but police officers should be allowed to carry firearms. “It was a chilled back day, beautiful weather. But we live in America where we have the Second Amendment and we have the Supreme Court of the United States telling everybody they can carry a gun wherever they want.” Kenney said on July 4 after two officers had been shot in the city.
“I was in Canada two weeks ago and never thought about a gun,” Kenney said. “The only people I knew who had guns in Canada were police officers.”
By definition, criminals don’t obey the law. Therefore, it’s absurd to restrict the rights of law-abiding citizens who wish to carry firearms.
