Pro Second Amendment Rally Considered Terrorist Threat By Pennsylvania Government

A Cranberry lawmaker yesterday demanded answers from the Rendell administration on why a taxpayer-financed bulletin intended to identify terror-related threats included two Capitol rallies he organized this year.

"This is the type of activity you hear so many people talk about when they say what they think is wrong with government," said Republican Rep. Daryl Metcalfe.

Metcalfe's annual Second Amendment rally, which attracts gun owners from across the state, was mentioned in an April bulletin to state Homeland Security officials by the Institute of Terrorism Research and Response, a York-based nonprofit paid $103,000 by the state.

"Pennsylvania militia groups apparently are planning on attending" the event, the institute warned, and law enforcement might have to provide "crowd control." The protest was peaceful and there was no evidence of militia groups attending.

State Homeland Security Director James F. Powers Jr. declined to be interviewed, said spokeswoman Maria Finn.

Gov. Ed Rendell "made his feeling known generally last Tuesday about the information included in the bulletins" and had no additional comment, said Gary Tuma, his press secretary. Rendell criticized the reports -- which were sent to law enforcement and government agencies -- and said he would not renew the contract.

The bulletins cut across an ideological path in monitoring liberal and conservative groups. A state senator has called on Powers to resign or be fired and a Senate committee plans a hearing next week to investigate.

In June, an anti-tax rally organized by Metcalfe caught the attention of the institute. It mistakenly said the Constitutional Organization of Liberty (COOL) was sponsoring the rally, Metcalfe said.

"That's news to me," Metcalfe said. "COOL did not help me organize it. I am not sure if anyone from COOL attended."

Michael Perelman, co-director of the institute, last week defended the "research and analysis" group's work. It acts "within the scope of the law" to provide information to clients, including some Fortune 100 companies, he said.

Metcalfe said he was meeting with House Republican lawyers to determine his options. He said he likely will ask state Homeland Security for additional information on why his rallies were included, who was notified, and what other actions were taken.

"Did they tap anyone's phone?" Metcalfe asked. "Have I been investigated since the rally?"

The Rendell administration does not intend to remove security bulletins from its website, which Perelman requested over the weekend, Tuma said. Perelman told state officials the information could be used by terrorists.

Tuma said the bulletins had been "widely disseminated" throughout the state before they were put online.

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Pro Second Amendment Rally Considered Terrorist Threat By Pennsylvania Government

Pro Second Amendment Rally Considered Terrorist Threat By Pennsylvania Government

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