To the Editor:

Hunters and gun owners, BEWARE what is now called the "Black Caucus" of mainly Philadelphia legislators seeking new gun restrictions like the Rendell "One Gun A Month" purchase that would be imposed on ALL Pennsylvanians;allegdely to curb Philadelphia's growing violent nature and murder rate. While citing that police officers are becoming murderers’ targets,some Philly legislators have supported freeing "celebrity" cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal who shot and killed Officer Daniel Faulkner nearly 26 years ago in Philadelphia. The usual [nonsense] that the death penalty is more costly than a life sentence and and doesn't deter murders is constar applied to Jamal's case. More costly than a life sentence? Yes, but only ONCE, and escape or leniency from paroles or courts won't happen. Death sentence no "deterrent" to murder?

Perhaps not to future killers, but has anyone or any legislator ever heard of a convicted murderer who was executed,committing another murder?

Philadelphia enjoys disparative treatment under Pennsylvania school funding statutes and from Rendell's Gambling Law which allows cities like Philly unfair quotas of gambling casinos and track slots. So, if such disparative treatment in those cases can be dealt to Philadelphia, any new gun laws alleged to be for Philadelphia should also be for that city only. A return to being the City of Brotherly Love is a better idea, but given this city's growing violence towards each other makes that unlikely.

Elected legislators like those who filed for (paid, of course) leaves rather than staying where they were elected to and doing their well paid jobs, are only denying all Pennsylvanians action on the many important bills needing action. Paid early holiday leaves my foot, those clowns should have had impeachment or at least censuring filed against them.

Maybe the impending Philadelphia City Councils efforts to evict the "Cradle of Liberty” Boy Scouts of America council from its longtime token renting in a city owned building is indicative of why Philadelphians are shooting each other so often. Seems the City Council intends to evict these Boy Scouts if they do not  renounce the National Boy Scouts of America policy of not allowing gays to become scouting "leaders". Renounce or pay $200,000 annual rent. City Council sounds much like their counterparts on leaves from the legislature.

If Philadelphia's legislators want more gun restrictive laws for Philadelphia, they should make them apply to that city only, not to law abiding gun owners in the rest of this state.

(Signed)

Tom Atkinson Sr., Honesdale, Pa.