PA Sen. Bob Regola - Family Values?

PA State Senator Bob Regola was charged today with three counts of perjury, allowing possession of a firearm by a minor, recklessly endangering another person and false swearing.  The charges arise in connection with the death of Louis Farrell, 14, who was found dead with Regola's gun at his side.  The Westmoreland County Coroner declared the death a suicide.

Troopers allege in court papers and testified at the inquest that Mr. Regola told them the gun had been kept in his son Bobby's room for a time. But Mr. Regola testified at the inquest that his son did not have access to the gun.

That was contradicted by the testimony of one of Bobby's friends, who said he saw the gun in Bobby's room.

State police said Mr. Regola endangered Louis by keeping a loaded gun to which his son had access and knowing that Louis had a key to the home, which he used when he cared for the Regolas' dogs.

Mr. Regola is expected to be arraigned tomorrow.

http://www.post-gazette.com/...

I don't know where to start commenting on this.  Maybe first would be to remark on what a dirty fracking bunch Western Pennsylvania Republicans are.  Jeff Habay, Tim Murphy and now Bob Regola.

Or maybe, I could remark on the rank hypocrisy of a guy like Regola who campaigned on "Family Values" but kept a unlocked loaded gun in his son's room.  That's real family values, Senator.

http://www.bobregola.com/

Regola also received the endorsement of the NRA and a group called "Firearm Owners Against Crime".  It's too bad nobody asked him about responsible gun storage.

http://www.bobregola.com/...

Well, in any case, it would seem that Regola's political career is over.  The only real question is whether he sticks it out until the 2008 election or not.  Regola narrowly defeated then State Rep Allen Kukovich in 2004.  This is a swing district that in today's political climate could easily go Democratic.  The districts of four Democratic State Reps overlap with SD-39, Joseph Petrarca (HD-55), James Casorio, Jr. (HD-56), Thomas Tangretti (HD-57), and Ted Harhai (HD-57).  If there were a Special Election, I would imagine that one of more of these State Reps would jump into the race.  

Democrats hold 21 out of 50 seats in the Pennsylvania Senate.  A 25-25 Senate would give the Democrats a majority, so we need to pick up 4 seats.  The odd-numbered seats are up in 2008 with the even-numbered seats up in 2010.  With redistricting coming in 2011, a Democratic Pennsylvania Legislative Majority is terribly important.

•  I'm glad they

  charged him in this case.  I was doubting if they really would charge him. Doesn't all those charges warrant time in the slammer? I think after this his district will swing towards the Dems.

  by Mz Kleen on Tue Mar 27, 2007 at 01:11:24 PM PDT

•  IOKIYAR

  Republicans will let their kids get loaded guns, but not contraceptives or HPV vaccines.

  by Greasy Grant on Tue Mar 27, 2007 at 01:14:38 PM PDT

  •  A loaded gun can be a very

    effective form of contraception. Perhaps that's what the good senator had in mind.

    by zashvil on Tue Mar 27, 2007 at 02:03:27 PM PDT

    •  Seems that those who...

      are anti-contraception and anti-abortion have more hunting accidents or gun accidents than coastal liberals.  Could this be Darwinism in action, i.e. nature's way of keeping the red-state and blue-state populations on an even keel?

      by Greasy Grant on Tue Mar 27, 2007 at 02:11:11 PM PDT

•  man

  the PA Legislature is just full of creeps....lift the rock of "reform" and look at all the roaches that scurry out!
  i'm hoping we get a good guy in Regola's seat outta this.

  by terrypinder on Tue Mar 27, 2007 at 01:18:36 PM PDT