AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

Pennsylvania is shaping up to be a key battleground in our quest to defend the Second Amendment. While there are plenty of pro-gun laws on the books within the state, we have Pittsburgh which has ignored the state’s preemption law, and the state is doing nothing about it. Further, it seems as if the Pennsylvania governor gave his blessing to Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto’s lawbreaking.

That seems to suggest that at least some want to turn the state into another California or New Jersey, at least as far as guns go.

On Monday, though, pro-gun groups took to the capitol to make sure their voices were heard loud and clear.

Several hundred gun rights protesters rallied Monday at the state Capitol, warning lawmakers against passing legislation that would tighten the state’s gun laws.

The annual rally took place with a heightened sense of urgency as gun control groups have been ratcheting up pressure on lawmakers in the wake of school shootings nationally and tragedies, such as the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh, closer to home.

Speakers including state Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, R- York County, made reference to the Tree of Life shooting and other attacks on churches and synagogues, including one on April 29 in Poway, California.

Phillips-Hill called the shootings attacks on “our rights to worship and our right to life,” but added that, “states with the strictest gun laws have not prevented attacks.”

She said gun-owners should not be “made scapegoats” as lawmakers look for ways to respond to mass shootings.

She’s right. Gun owners shouldn’t be made anything. The only people responsible for these senseless acts are the maniacs conducting these attacks. If states want to show they’re serious about ending these attacks, then recognize that there is a psychological pathology behind these atrocities and that removing one type of weapon won’t magically make them end. The sick individuals who carry out these shootings will shift to a different weapon.

One speaker at the rally called out Mayor Peduto and called for him to be removed from office.

In response to the October massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue, Pittsburgh City Council and Mayor Bill Peduto approved several new gun restrictions, including limits on the use of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.

Gun rights groups have challenged the laws in court, saying the city doesn’t have the authority to regulate guns.

Now, Republican Rep. Daryl Metcalfe of Butler County is seeking support from fellow lawmakers to impeach the Democratic mayor.

“Mayor William Peduto is guilty of the impeachable offense of violating the constitution,” Metcalfe said to a crowd that filled the Rotunda in the state Capitol. “He willfully, brazenly, arrogantly violated the law.”

I’m in favor of that. Peduto has willfully violated the Constitution of the United States and Pennsylvania state law. There needs to be some punishment for that or else preemption means nothing.

Unfortunately, Metcalfe seems to be in the minority among his fellow lawmakers. Most don’t seem to want to go that far, which is troubling.

Regardless, at least the rally stood as a reminder to anti-gun legislators that Pennsylvania gun owners are still around, still vote, and aren’t going to buy the anti-gun rhetoric being spouted from every mainstream media outlet at every opportunity.