- Right now @clgoddard is delivering 35K signatures to Congress pre-State of the Union to push for action on #guns http://t.co/C04i0QaY
- What can you do to help make a safer nation? Consider volunteering time & talent. Details here: http://t.co/hG1SKqJL
- If you've lost a loved one to gun violence, plz share your story: http://t.co/vSjqVbmI
- Tell Congress we want action to reduce #gun violence. Help reach the goal of 30,000 emails by midnight: http://t.co/GdNtznlD
- Only hours left to make as big an impact as possible. Plz RT to help reach goal of 30K emails to Congress: http://t.co/GdNtznlD
- #NowIsTheTime to rally friends & followers to reach our goal of 30,000 emails to Congress in the next few hours: http://t.co/GdNtznlD
- #NowIsTheTime to make Congress hear our demand to reduce #gun violence. Help send 30K emails by midnight http://t.co/GdNtznlD
- Make sure Congress hears our demand for action to reduce #gun violence. Let's send 30,000 emails over the next 48 hours http://t.co/GdNtznlD
- Make our voices heard. Help send 30,000 emails urging Senate Judiciary Committee members to act on #gun reform http://t.co/GdNtznlD
- #NowIsTheTime to rally friends, family & followers to help send 30,000 emails to Congress in the next 48 hours: http://t.co/GdNtznlD
- Nationwide call-to-action: Help rally friends & family to send 30,000 emails to Congress in the next 48 hours: http://t.co/GdNtznlD
- President, Gabby Giffords & Mark Kelly say #NowIsTheTime for #gun reform. Tell Congress you agree: http://t.co/NJBj2Vt8 http://t.co/bWHypNuY
Court Rejects Lawsuit Against Sheriff Who Revoked Permit of Gun-Toting Soccer Mom
Nov 3, 2010
Washington, D.C. - A Pennsylvania federal judge yesterday dismissed a lawsuit originally brought by Meleanie Hain and her husband claiming one million dollars in damages after Lebanon County, PA Sheriff Michael DeLeo revoked her license to carry a concealed firearm. The license revocation followed complaints from parents that Hain posed a danger to the community by openly carrying a loaded semiautomatic firearm to her five-year-old's soccer games.
The case was continued by Hain's estate after she was shot and killed by her husband in October 2009.
The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence provided free legal assistance to Sheriff DeLeo, and the court adopted arguments supported by the Brady Center that DeLeo could not be sued for allegedly violating Hain's Second Amendment rights. Chief Judge Yvette Kane of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania noted that the U.S. Supreme Court has "explicitly referenced prohibitions on concealed carrying of firearms as an example of regulations that have traditionally been considered lawful under the Second Amendment."
"Day after day we see the cost in lost and damaged lives caused by easy access to deadly weapons. We agree with the court that the Second Amendment does not prevent states from reasonably restricting the carrying of hidden handguns in public places," said Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. "We hope this will put an end to this tragic case. Our hearts go out to Ms. Hain's children, whose mother was taken from them by a senseless act of gun violence."
In explaining her reasoning for carrying a loaded gun at her child's soccer game, Hain stated in a December 12, 2008, Philadelphia Inquirer article that she openly carried a loaded semiautomatic handgun because, "I don't really need anything extra in the way of the gun if I'm going to have to pull it out and I'm holding a baby and trying to shuttle two or three other kids."
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The Brady Campaign is the nation's largest citizens' lobby to prevent gun violence. We represent the voice of the overwhelming majority of Americans who are tired of living with the constant tragedy of gun violence and are in favor of strong laws and policies that will save lives. We are the light that exposes politicians who are putting the American people at risk, empowering the American people to hold them accountable for decisions and actions that undermine public safety.
We are driven by the focused vision of a nation where all Americans are safe at home, at work, at school, and in our communities.
Dan Gross is the President of the Brady Campaign and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. A photo and more information about Dan Gross is available here.
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