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A blatant case of legislative pandering earlier this year to the National Rifle Association by Gov. Tom Corbett and the General Assembly could well prove a futile exercise after the state’s chief law enforcement officer has declined to defend it in court.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane’s office on Friday said she won’t represent the state in court defenses of the law. Lancaster, Philadelphia and several lawmakers so far have filed court challenges.

The law, passed by the Legislature and signed by Corbett in October, would give the NRA “standing” in court if and when municipalities are sued by individuals or groups for enacting gun laws more restrictive than state law or regulations.

Kane’s decision means any court defense of the law would pass to the governor’s Office of General Counsel, which by mid-January passes from Corbett’s control to that of Gov.-elect Tom Wolf.

When the amendment passed the Senate in October, we disagreed with Republican state Sen. Rich Alloway’s claims that it protects the “Second Amendment and the rights of law-abiding citizens of Pennsylvania.”