Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Will Speaker of PA House Take Action Against AG Josh Shapiro?

Narcotic Agents of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General NBC News vide screengrab 3-25-2022
Narcotic Agents of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General NBC News vide screengrab 3-25-2022

HARRISBURG, PA -(Ammoland.com)- Pennsylvanian Republicans have not committed to investigating Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s office for perceived improprieties during an NBC News story on Polymer80 kits being sold at gun shows in the Commonwealth.

A group of five pro-gun groups led the charge after members of the Attorney General’s office were filmed finishing two Polymer80 kits for the NBC News story. The groups would like to know if any laws were broken when the AG office finished the receivers that NBC News reporter Vaughn Hillyard purchased from the JSD Supply booth at an Eagle Shows gun show. Hillyard filmed himself purchasing two P80 kits with a hidden camera before ambushing JSD Supply President Jordan Vinroe outside the show in a Philadelphia suburb.

Shapiro had declared war on what he refers to as “ghost guns” when he pressured the former owners of Eagle Shows to stop letting JSD Supply from selling unfinished frames and receivers. While Shapiro was taking a victory lap, Vinroe was looking for a way forward. That way came by buying the gun show that banned him. The 80% firearms were once again back at the shows.

The Democrat candidate for PA Governor gave an interview to NBC News on the top of a Philadelphia building. The city of Philly banned unfinished frames kits before an injunction was levied upon the “City of Brotherly Love” for breaking preemption. This location was the same place the two kits were built into fully functioning firearms.

Gun rights groups asked the Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Bryan Cutler (R-100), to open an investigation into the AG’s Office. Cutler responded but didn’t commit to acting on the request.

The Speaker did thank the groups for bringing the matter to his attention. He stated that the issue could be referred to the Government Oversight Committee under House Rule 45(A). He also suggested going to the Federal District Attorney’s Office because of a possible violation of federal law.

Pennsylvania State Director Dr. Val Finnell of Gun Owners of America (GOA) has pushed the Speaker to open an investigation in the AG’s Office. AmmoLand News spoke with Dr. Finnell on Thursday of last week. He asked Cutler to decide to refer the situation to the appropriate committee with subpoena power. The Speaker would miss the deadline.

“GOA has reviewed the Speaker’s response and has responded by requesting a firm decision to refer the matter to an appropriate committee with full investigatory and subpoena power by Monday, April 18, 2022, and for hearings to commence no later than the week of April 25, 2022,” Dr. Finnell said.

It is unknown if the Speaker will refer the matter to the appropriate committee. The inaction of the Speaker has put him in a precarious position with gun owners. Cutler is facing a primary challenge from Anne Weston. Weston has made gun rights a key focus of her campaign and vowed to fight against all infringements.

AmmoLand News has also filed a Right to Know (RTK) request with the AG’s Office. The state responded by granting itself an extension for producing the records. The AG’s Office claims that it needs the extra time to complete a legal review of the request and redact information. AmmoLand News is looking into its legal options to guarantee the request is fulfilled.

Josh Shapiro and the AG’s Office did not provide AmmoLand News a comment. NBC News also didn’t respond to AmmoLand’s request for comment.


About John Crump

John is a NRA instructor and a constitutional activist. John has written about firearms, interviewed people of all walks of life, and on the Constitution. John lives in Northern Virginia with his wife and sons and can be followed on Twitter at @crumpyss, or at www.crumpy.com.

John Crump



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