Breaking News
CeaseFirePA, an organization that works to reduce gun violence, gathered with residents, local law enforcement and victims of gun violence yesterday at UPMC Children's Hospital to urge revival of legislation that it said could help take illegal guns off the streets.
One bill, which would have prohibited purchasing more than one handgun a month, was defeated in the state House Judiciary Committee.
Washington, D.C. – Nine leading national law enforcement groups joined the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence in filing a “friend of the court” brief urging the United States Supreme Court to reverse a federal appeals court ruling striking down a District of Columbia gun law as a violation of the Second Amendment.
The President signed the National Instant Check System (NICS) Improvement Amendments Act of 2007. This is the first major piece of national legislation to be passed to reduce gun violence in more than a decade.
The passage of this bill was in response to the April 16th, 2007 Virginia Tech massacre. The Virginia Tech killer was able to arm himself because the court order that should have blocked his gun purchase was not reported to the federal Brady background check system.
Three handgun bills would save lives while doing nothing to infringe on the rights of Pennsylvanians
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
By State Rep. Dan Frankel, Chairman of the Allegheny County Delegation
As a member of the state House Judiciary Committee, I have received a tidal wave of public input on three handgun bills that Gov. Rendell and I support. Much of the comment was based on misinformation. I understand the concerns of sportsmen and other gun owners, and I am happy to tell them that their rights would remain safe if these bills become law.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - December 13, 2007 - CeaseFire PA, a non-profit organization dedicated to preventing gun violence, announced the hiring of a new executive director with extensive campaign experience to direct a growing statewide coalition that supports stronger handgun laws for Pennsylvania.
Allentown, Bethlehem mayors say firearms violence affects small cities, too.
By John L. Micek | Morning Call Harrisburg Bureau
December 11, 2007
Philadelphia's shootings have been getting the headlines, but gun violence is a fact in smaller communities too, Mayors John Callahan of Bethlehem and Ed Pawlowski of Allentown stressed Monday during a gun control rally.
''It's an issue affecting all of us,'' Pawlowski said. ''We have to take action, and hopefully the Legislature will pay attention.''
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
By Tom Barnes, Post-Gazette Harrisburg Bureau
HARRISBURG -- A lot of political heavy hitters, guys like Gov. Ed Rendell, Philadelphia's outgoing Mayor John Street and incoming Mayor Michael Nutter, state Rep. Dan Frankel and a dozen of his colleagues, plus two dozen uniformed police officers, came to the Capitol yesterday to insist that lawmakers move more quickly on three bills to control the sale of handguns.
 Governor Ed Rendell joined mayors and police officers from across Pennsylvania to push for new state gun laws at a Capitol rally in Harrisburg. Rendell says polls show majorities of Pennsylvanians favor several proposals that are stalled in the Legislature.
They include limiting handgun purchases to one per month and requiring owners to report whenever guns are lost or stolen.
John Callahan stresses gun violence is 'not a big-city issue'
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
By BILL WICHERT
The Express-Times
Less than two weeks after a triple homicide in Easton, two Lehigh Valley mayors called on the state Legislature to address the gun violence spreading through local communities.
Mothers held up pictures of their slain children at a rally attended by Rendell and police officers.
By Amy Worden
Inquirer Harrisburg Bureau
HARRISBURG - Richard Decoatsworth, the 21-year-old Philadelphia police officer shot during a traffic stop in September, wore his scar on a bandaged jaw.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
BY CHARLES THOMPSON
Of The Patriot-News
Until recently, Mercedes Raye hadn't been an active participant in the community forums, street marches or other anti-violence efforts around Harrisburg.
But with her 12-year-old daughter recuperating from being shot in both legs outside a teen dance party in the city last month, Raye has become an instant gun control advocate. Her daughter is expected to make a full recovery, but the experience was too close for comfort for Raye.
Join forces with Governor Rendell, mayors from cities throughout Pennsylvania, law enforcement officials and gun control advocates at this press event to demand legislators pass more effective gun laws!
If you are interested in going with us to Harrisburg, please call CeaseFire PA at 215-923-3151, or email info@ceasefirepa.org. If you can't go, but would still like to help, please consider donating to HandgunSanity to help the fight against illegal guns in Pennsylvania.
Remember, Act Now, Save Lives!
The Pa. legislators, mostly from this region, want House colleagues to reconsider a trio of firearms bills.
HARRISBURG - At least a dozen members of the Legislative Black Caucus abruptly walked off the House floor yesterday, saying they were angered and frustrated over the lack of movement on any meaningful gun-control legislation.
Defections have meant doom, but polls hint at hope for survival.
The axioms of state politics dictate that two Republican House members from the Philadelphia suburbs risked political death when they crossed party lines Tuesday to vote for a gun-control bill.
Those rules may be changing, however, with Pennsylvania polls indicating majority support for stricter regulation of handguns and a newly emboldened advocacy group determined to counter the National Rifle Association's traditional power.
Judiciary Committee Roll Call Votes
HB 29: providing for registry for lost or stolen firearms and for failure to report lost or stolen firearms.
Sponsor: Rep. Williams, Co-sponsor: Rep. James
Vote to Table
Judiciary Committee Roll Call Votes
HB 22: providing for a limit on handgun purchases and sales; establishing the Violence Prevention Fund; and further providing for municipal regulation of firearms and ammunition.
Sponsor: Rep. Williams, Co-sponsor: Rep. Manderino
House committee supports one, but rejects two other key gun control bills.
HARRISBURG - Despite an impassioned personal plea by Gov. Rendell to do more, a state House panel this morning endorsed one bill aimed at curbing gun violence but rejected two others and tabled action on a fourth.
In a 27-2 vote, Judiciary Committee members approved a bill sponsored by Speaker Dennis O'Brien (R., Phila.) to create a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 20 year for anyone who fires a weapon at a police officer.
Voters from across the state – from Erie County to Philadelphia – are sending a clear message that handgun violence presents a crisis that our elected officials in Harrisburg must address immediately. A recent survey of 600 registered Pennsylvania voters in swing state legislative districts reveals a worried public that wants concrete action taken to reduce violence caused by handguns.
A vote on two important handgun safety bills will come on Tuesday, November 20th in Harrisburg.
We want legislators to:
Vote YES on HB 22 and help law enforcement limit qualified individuals to the purchase of no more than One Handgun a Month.
Vote YES on HB 29 and require the reporting of lost and stolen guns.
OK, the NRA has spoken. Now it's time to let the Pennsylvania General Assembly know that you want to strengthen our gun laws so we can protect our citizens and the men and women who wear a uniform every day while they protect and serve the public.
Say no to any deals with the NRA and yes to common sense laws that will help stop the flow of illegal guns throughout Pennsylvania.
"What impact would the repeal of D.C.'s gun laws have on our city? From my perspective, the answer to that question is straightforward--and it is scary. Repealing our guns laws would mean substantially more handguns in the District of Columbia. And more handguns would mean more gun crimes, more gun violence and more homicides, as well as more accidental shootings and suicides. More guns will also mean a greater threat to our police officers."
In an important ruling, the Indiana Court of Appeals today published its ruling that a lawsuit brought by the City of Gary, Indiana, was not barred by the federal gun industry immunity statute (PLCAA) passed in 2005 by the United States Congress. This decision is a blow to gun makers and dealers across the nation who are trying to evade responsibility for practices that put more handguns into the illegal market where they are acquired by criminals.
Philadelphia District Attorney Lynn Abraham holds a HandgunSanity.org sign as she addresses the crowd about the recent police shootings, including the one that killed Officer Chuck Cassidy.
PENNSYLVANIA'S ILLEGAL GUN TRADE
PLACES POLICE OFFICERS IN HARM'S WAY
Calling for more officers on the street without doing more to disarm criminals is reckless and puts police at risk.
Contact: Phil Goldsmith 215-901-6405
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PENNSYLVANIA'S ILLEGAL GUN TRADE
PLACES POLICE OFFICERS IN HARM'S WAY
Calling for more officers on the street without doing more to disarm criminals is reckless and puts police at risk.
Philadelphia, PA (October 31, 2007): In the wake of the second police shooting in a day, and the fifth in only four days, CeaseFire Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth's leading organization to prevent gun violence, urges all lawmakers in the General Assembly to support new laws that make it harder for criminals to obtain guns through illegal channels. Phil Goldsmith, president of CeaseFire PA, expressed outrage at the lawmakers who have been holding up reasonable measures that would go far to limit the handguns flowing onto the illegal market. Our police are in the crosshairs each time they respond to a call. While they don't hesitate to protect us, there are many in the state who are not doing enough to protect them.
Handgun Sanity March with presentations by Philadelphia leaders.
Led by activist Joe Davis, gun violence opponents march down Broad Street.
As president of the board of CeaseFirePA it is bittersweet that we announce the launch our newly designed HandgunSanity.org website when our community is reeling from the news of another innocent victim of gun violence. As you will read below, our first post is a letter from Lance Haver, and friend and colleague who reports the sad news that his son was shot when he stopped to buy a snack. Daren is now paralyzed.
We have been fortunate to have received the help of Mayor Street's top staff including Loree Jones and Joyce Wilkerson who called the hospital and doctors on our behalf to ensure Daren received the best care available. His life was saved, but not his body.
Daren is strong in sprits. After we told him the horrible news that he will never be able to move his body again, he picked letters out of the alphabet to ask: Does that mean I will become a genius? (like Steven Hawkings) He was wise enough and courageous enough to signal that he wanted to meet with a hospice nurse to begin to think about his future.
Philadelphia District Attorney Lynn Abraham holds a HandgunSanity.org sign as she addresses the crowd about the recent police shootings, including the one that killed Officer Chuck Cassidy.
|
