Pennsylvania Governor Names Panel To Review PICS System Shut Down!

Due to the widespread outrage of Pennsylvania sportsmen and gun owners, Governor Ed Rendell (D) has decided to appoint a seven-member panel to re-evaluate the recent decision of the Pennsylvania State Police to shut-down the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) from September 2 to September 6, at the beginning of dove and Canada goose season.  The panel will consist of four State Legislators, Bob Schlemmer of the Governor’s Sportsmen’s Advisory Board, Melody Zullinger of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportmen’s Clubs, and Horsham Police Chief Bob Ruxton, also chairman of the state Chiefs of Police Association.

In August, the Pennsylvania State Police notified us of its intent to shut down the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) from 6:00 PM Sunday, September 2, until 12:00 noon on Thursday, September 6., because of computer upgrades.  While we understand and appreciate the need to upgrade the system’s hardware and software, we believe any maintenance should be done during non-business hours so that it does not inconvenience or interfere with a law-abiding citizen’s right to purchase a firearm. 

NRA has been working with the Pennsylvania State Police, members of the State Legislature, and the Attorney General to resolve this matter.

Please contact Governor Ed Rendell (D) and your State Legislator today and respectfully urge him to postpone the maintenance until PICS can perform the needed maintenance without interfering with a law-abiding citizen’s right to purchase a firearm.  Governor Rendell can be reached at (717) 787-2500 or visit http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Governor/govmail.html to send him an email   The State Senate can be reached at (717) 787-5920 and the House of Representatives can be reached at (717) 787-2382. 

If you need help identifying your State Legislators, please click here.

Click here to view a letter sent by Majority Leader Bill DeWeese (D-50) and Representative Ed Staback (D-115), Chairman of the Games & Fisheries Committee, to Colonel Jeffrey Miller, Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police, requesting the Commissioner to reconsider the dates of the shutdown of the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS).