Groups Meet at Gun Protest Outside of State Representative’s Office

The sun was shining Monday as several dozen people on both sides of gun debate met outside State Rep. Frank Farry’s office on Maple Avenue in Middletown’s Langhorne section.

The rally and counter-rally drew lively debate, plenty of signs and, in a few cases, shouting.

A group of gun rights supporters were waiting when a group representing the Bucks Coalition for Gun Safety marched from the center of Langhorne Borough, down the sidewalk along Maple Avenue to protest outside Farry’s office.

Members of the coalition went into the building that holds Farry’s district office and handed a letter to a staffer. The letter asked the state representative to reconsider supporting  legislation that reportedly favors the gun lobby’s stance.

Farry told LevittownNow.com that he was in Harrisburg preparing for a presentation at the time of the rally in Middletown and coalition members knew he would not be at his office. He said he was “disappointed” the rally was held outside his office and he has not yet decided how he will vote for the HB 921, which would replace the Pennsylvania Instant Check System with the National Instant Check System. The other bill the coalition members said Farry supported is HB 2011, which would make firearm and ammunition laws are consistent throughout the state.

Protesters on both sides of the fence voiced their opinions and stood along Maple Avenue holding signs supporting their viewpoint. Some drivers beeped as they drove by, but due to the close proximity of the two groups, it was not clear who they were honking in support of.

Steve Cickay, a Newtown resident who is running as a Democrat for the state senate seat currently held by Republican Chuck McIlhinney, said he marched with the coalition because he believes in universal background checks. He added that he supported the second amendment and wanted responsible legislation that backed what the majority of residents felt.

Gerald Armstrong of Fairless Hills stood with the gun rights group and said he felt that “criminals are going to ignore the laws no matter what – they’re criminals.”

Some of the gun rights supporters tried to convince coalition members their point of view. In some cases, coalition members broke into song to drown out the gun rights supporters, some of whom had handguns at their side.

Sheryl Kisselman of Northampton gave a short speech about her son Corey, who was shot and killed by his roommate in 2012 in Warminster after a fight over a marijuana cigarette. “I can”t wrap my mind around the politics involved with making changes,” she said, speaking in support of the coalition.

Kisselman’s short speech was interrupted at one point by members of the gun rights group, who quickly let her finish her comments.

The gun rights group was lead by Firearms Owners Against Crime President Kim Stolfer, who traveled six hours from McDonald, Pa. to attend.

“I’ve been doing this for 30 years,” Stolfer said. He added that people should support politicians like Farry because they support the second amendment.

Farry said he was “disappointed” that the coalition protested outside his office and said they spread “misinformation” in the posters announcing the protest.

“I refuse to be bullied by an interest group,” Farry said.

The state representative said he met with a coalition member six months ago and met with more coalition members recently after he heard they were going to protest outside of his office.

“I requested the second meeting. I didn’t hear hide nor hair from them until I saw the poster last week,” Farry said. He added that he met with them for two hours and heard their concerns, but they said they were still going to protest him.

“It’s all political, and I’m disappointed,” he said.

Police from Middletown and Langhorne Borough watched over the protest but did not have to step in.