PITTSBURGH — Gun rights supporters were in and out of municipal court in a matter of minutes Friday morning after they were turned away by the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office.
About a dozen residents, opponents of the city's new gun legislation, walked into court together to file private criminal complaints against the Mayor Bill Peduto and the Pittsburgh City Council.
They met briefly with district attorney spokesman Mike Manko.
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Channel 11 was not permitted to record their conversation because Manko said it was private.
The legislation -- which makes it illegal to load, brandish, display, discharge, point or otherwise use an assault weapon within the city -- passed a final Pittsburgh City Council vote 6-3 on April 2.
On Tuesday, Mayor Bill Peduto signed the gun legislation. It will take effect in 60 days.
Before the signing, gun rights advocates filed a lawsuit against the city, claiming state law prohibits them from enacting gun control.
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Manko gave Channel 11 a statement that said:
"The District Attorney cannot legally approve any private criminal complaints concerning legislation that has not yet taken effect... the office will not be considering any such complaints until such a time as someone is legally cited."
That outraged some residents.
“Why do I have to be arrested? Why do I have to fall on the sword? In my eyes, I am going to be handcuffed and have a criminal record. Sixty-three years, no criminal record,” Tony Golembiewski said.
“In some ways, it's contriving us to do something on a civil disobedience perspective in 60 days. It's ridiculous,” Mary Konieczny said.
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