“Given Republican leadership’s commitment to inaction, we must get creative to cut gun violence at its roots. Through his work both in Harrisburg and his district, Representative Kirkland has exhibited the leadership needed to fight the scourge of gun violence.” Read more

“Governor Wolf addressed so many critical issues, and I am hopeful all of us in the legislature can find some common ground so we can better fund our schools, increase the minimum wage, improve our communities and keep all in our commonwealth safer. I look forward to continuing to work for the 159th and all Pennsylvanians.” Read more

HARRISBURG, Jan. 3 – State Reps. Chris Rabb, D-Phila., and Kristine C. Howard, D-Chester, today introduced legislation that would make Pennsylvania the latest state to prohibit licensed gunowners from carrying a concealed firearm while intoxicated. “Alcohol intoxication clouds judgement and dulls a person’s ability to discern the consequences of their actions,” Rabb said. “Similar to the hazards an intoxicated driver poses to themselves and the public, a firearm in the hands of even the most diligent handler who is intoxicated can also be dangerous and potentially fatal.” Under the bill, individuals carrying a firearm with a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent or greater would be penalized with a summary offense, a $100 fine and suspension of their concealed carry permit for up to three years. The bill would also impose a third-degree misdemeanor, a $500 fine, and a license suspension for a minimum of three years, with the possibility of permanent permit revocation. Rabb said alcohol has been the constant variable in many violent crimes cases and pointed to a 2015 study that found a positive association between alcohol misuse, risk behaviors involving firearms and firearm violence, both self-inflicted and against another person. According to the study, deaths among men caused by alcohol-related violence firearm violence were equal to those from motor-vehicle crashes also involving alcohol. The legislation poises Read more

HARRISBURG, Dec. 16 – Rep. Kristine Howard, D-Chester, this morning joined Gov. Tom Wolf, justices and fellow legislators at a news conference with Pew Charitable Trusts on the creation of a Juvenile Justice Task Force, which will develop a report on steps the Commonwealth can take to strengthen the juvenile justice system. “This task force is a great step towards a safe, healthy and well-educated future for the children of Pennsylvania,” Howard said. “When it comes to the welfare of Pennsylvania’s youth—and to improving our communities across the commonwealth—there is much work to be done. This data-driven task force is the way forward, and I look forward to taking up its recommendations. “I am committed to supporting the membership of this task force in any way I can to develop and pass evidence-based recommendations that will ensure that our systems are fair, equitable and responsive to all youth.” Joining Howard and Wolf were Rep. Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster, the Hon. Kim Berkeley Clark, the Hon. Douglas Reichley, Sen. Anthony Williams, D-Philadelphia/Delaware, Sen. Larry Farnese, D-Philadelphia, and Sen. Mike Regan, R-Cumberland. Read more

The Special Council was created as part of Wolf’s executive order signed in August and tasked with studying and making recommendations to prevent and reduce gun violence. Read more

HARRISBURG, Nov. 25 – State Rep. Isabella Fitzgerald, D-Phila., announced she has introduced a series of bills designated to protect law-abiding gun owners, children and residents in the commonwealth. “It’s unfortunate that anyone could potentially become a victim to gun violence here in Pennsylvania. Whether accidental or intentional, one life lost is one too many. We must put commonsense legislation in place to prevent senseless killings from occurring in the future,” Fitzgerald said. “My three bills would preserve the rights of Pennsylvanians who are carrying guns legally, safeguard our children from being killed accidentally and enforce a ‘cooling-off’ period for a person who may have experienced an unpleasant incident in their life and who looks to potentially commit an act of violence.” The bills introduced by Fitzgerald are: H.B. 2076 – Would require driver’s licenses and photo identification cards to indicate a person possesses a concealed carry permit. H.B. 2077 – Would require all firearms be safely stored whenever they are not in use. H.B. 2078 – Would establish a 72-hour waiting period for purchases of semi-automatic assault rifles. Fitzgerald is a member of the PA SAFE Caucus , which is made up of 70 members of the PA House and Senate who believe in reducing all types of violence in society through Read more

Judiciary meeting a missed opportunity to address the public health crisis of gun violence Read more

PA Safe members applaud governor's executive order addressing gun violence. Read more

DOYLESTOWN, Aug. 16 – State Rep. Wendy Ullman, D-Bucks, announced her strong support of Gov. Tom Wolf’s executive order to address the public health crisis of gun violence in Pennsylvania. “In light of the growing gun violence epidemic, Governor Wolf’s executive order is a necessary first step to end gun violence in Pennsylvania,” Ullman said. The executive order makes widespread changes to executive branch agencies and programs to reduce the number of suicides, homicides and mass shootings in Pennsylvania. The order names Charles Ramsey, chair of the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), to lead a new Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the agency, and the office will contain a Special Council on Gun Violence which will meet within 60 days to begin developing a plan to reduce gun violence in Pennsylvania. The executive order also creates a Division of Violence Prevention within the Department of Health. Together, the two offices will address gun violence from gun safety and public health perspectives. The offices will establish new oversight and data sharing, work to reduce community gun violence, combat mass shootings, and stop domestic violence related and self-inflicted shootings. Ullman said that the legislature must partner with the governor to have an impact on the gun violence epidemic. Ullman said, “Executive action cannot address the crisis alone. It is absolutely imperative that legislators come Read more

LEVITTOWN, Aug. 16 – State Rep. Tina Davis, D-Bucks, applauded Gov. Tom Wolf’s executive order to address the public health crisis of gun violence in Pennsylvania, saying it was necessary to pass reforms to increase community safety and reduce the threat of gun injuries and deaths. “We need to take drastic action now to preserve people’s lives and the governor’s executive order is a necessary first step,” Davis said. The executive order makes widespread changes to executive branch agencies and programs to reduce the number of suicides, homicides and mass shootings in Pennsylvania. The order names Charles Ramsey, chair of the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), to lead a new Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the agency, and the office will contain a Special Council on Gun Violence tasked with meeting within 60 days to begin developing a plan to reduce gun violence in Pennsylvania. The executive order also creates the Division of Violence Prevention within the Department of Health. Together, the two offices will address gun violence from gun safety and public health perspectives. They will establish new oversight and data sharing, and work to reduce community gun violence, combat mass shootings, and stop domestic violence related and self-inflicted shootings. Davis specifically mentioned that the legislature needs to take a leadership role by enacting “red flag” laws to get guns out of the hands of Read more