To be a lawful, responsible gun owner does not mean carrying allegiance to any political party. It means caring about your community. It means wanting to keep your children, family and neighbors safe. Read more
A myriad of bipartisan bills designed to reduce gun violence and keep our communities safer – none of which come anywhere close to wholesale rejection of the 2nd Amendment, as fear mongers might have you believe – continue to languish in committee, not even deemed important enough to discuss, let alone receive votes. Read more
HARRISBURG (August 7, 2020) – Today, a group of state lawmakers from Delaware County called for District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer to investigate violence and intimidation aimed at Black Lives Matter supporters during a march in Ridley Township on Saturday, August 1 st . State Sens. Tim Kearney and Anthony Williams as well as State Reps. Leanne Krueger, Margo Davidson, David Delloso, Brian Kirkland, and Joanna McClinton signed the letter, which details how peaceful protesters were met with violence and intimidation by a group of counter-protesters. The letter calls for Delaware County’s District Attorney to investigate the counter-protesters’ actions and the Ridley Township Police Department’s response. “I was proud to participate in the Black Lives Matter protest and stand with people of all races and all ages against systemic racism,” said Sen. Tim Kearney . “But I was disturbed by the hate and intimidation that I witnessed firsthand from counter-protesters. We are better than that. We need to make sure our community feels safe when peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights.” “I join others across our community in expressing horror that this demonstration of love and support for Black lives was met by a menacing group with a mission to taunt and intimidate peaceful protesters,” said Rep. Leanne Krueger . “Instead of actively protecting the First Amendment rights of our Read more
Pa. state Rep. Ben Sanchez joined state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta to address gun violence across the commonwealth. He explained that his legislation would help protect Pennsylvanians and keep firearms in the hands of responsible owners. Read more
“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
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
HARRISBURG, Aug. 16 – House members of the PA SAFE Caucus and others today joined Gov. Tom Wolf in announcing a slate of executive actions to make sweeping changes to state agencies and programs to better target the public health crisis of gun violence. At a news conference Friday in Harrisburg announcing the executive actions, Wolf directed his administration to create new state offices focused on violence prevention and reduction, expand programs that promote safety, refocus departments on combatting gun violence as a public health crisis, and increase collaboration and data sharing between the public, government agencies and other states. Reps. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) and Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia) joined Wolf at the news conference and spoke of the significance of the governor’s actions in light of recent events in their districts, expressed gratitude for Wolf’s leadership and said the state legislature must commit to taking on gun violence when it returns to session in September. Speaking on the tragic impact of gun violence in not only his district, but in those across Pennsylvania, Harris said, “This must stop. It must end. There are far too many victims, there are far too many people who have lost their life to gun violence in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Time is out for the talk. We have to do action, and we have to do it now.” Furthering this call for action, Frankel said, “We currently have about two dozen Read more
UPPER DARBY, Aug. 16 – State Rep. Margo Davidson, D-Delaware, announced her strong support of Gov. Tom Wolf’s executive order to address the public health crisis of gun violence in Pennsylvania, saying it was a necessary first step. “I applaud the governor’s decisive leadership to halt the epidemic of gun violence in Pennsylvania,” Davidson 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 Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, 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 the gun safety and public health perspectives. They will establish new oversight and data sharing, reduce community gun violence, combat mass shootings, and stop domestic violence related and self-inflicted shootings. In her roles as chair of the powerful Southeast Delegation and as a consistent leader in the PA Safe Caucus, Davidson said, "I will continue to lead the charge to enact commonsense gun safety reforms that will protect the lives of Read more
This graphic shows the reality of mass shootings in America during and after the federal assault weapons ban. Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 6 – State Rep. Mike Driscoll, D-Phila., has introduced legislation that would outlaw untraceable firearms and require firearms that are homemade or assembled from parts to have a serial number or other identifiable mark from a licensed dealer affixed to them. “Right now, teenagers and people prohibited from purchasing firearms can legally buy gun parts that they can assemble into a firearm, allowing them a workaround to get firearms they would otherwise be unable to lawfully obtain,” Driscoll said. “The legislation I’ve introduced would make these untraceable firearms traceable and, in turn, stop the flow of these deadly guns in our communities.” House Bill 1748 would also prohibit the possession, sale, delivery, transfer, manufacture, or advertising of DIY semiautomatic weapons, including the components of such firearms. Among other things, the legislation would update Pennsylvania law to require that all firearms, prior to being manufactured or assembled, have a unique serial number or other identifying mark assigned and affixed to them by a licensed dealer, beginning July 1, 2020. Additionally, by Jan. 1, 2021, any person who as of July 1, 2020, owns a firearm that doesn’t have a serial number assigned to it must apply to a licensed dealer for a serial number or other identification mark and then engrave or affix that number or mark to the firearm. “This legislation is a critical step toward keeping Read more
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 5 – State Rep. Jason Dawkins, D-Phila., chairman of the Philadelphia Delegation in the PA House of Representatives, along with delegation members, called on state and federal lawmakers Monday to act on sensible gun reform. “The tragedies in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio, have pained our hearts,” Dawkins said. “The news of more lives lost to gun violence is tragic. And not enacting sensible gun reform in Pennsylvania is a travesty. Dawkins pointed to Gov. Tom Wolf’s statement on Sunday, in which the governor tweeted that we can ban assault weapons and institute stricter background checks, target white nationalism and promote tolerance and invest in mental health care to help those who are struggling; but we must not accept this violence as normal. Dawkins said there are currently more than two dozen gun reform bills that could be voted on today that would make a difference in people’s lives . While we must fight back against hatred and bigotry, which seem central to the shootings this weekend, Dawkins said keeping guns out of the hands of those who wish to do harm is something we can do right now. “We are in what seems like an endless cycle of violence, killings, heartbreak, and then thoughts and prayers,” Dawkins said. “This cycle started long before El Paso and Dayton. And this cycle happens even when the shooting incidents don’t end up in national news headlines. Five people were Read more
PITTSBURGH , APRIL 29 – As the nation once again finds itself grieving in the wake of a hate-inspired terror attack on a Jewish community, state Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, again calls for action by state and federal leaders. “I know that the victims, the congregants and the community in Poway, California, will feel the support, concern and love that our community received from all over the world,” Frankel said. “Nevertheless, this response is insufficient. Elected offices have failed to respond in a meaningful way to addressing crimes of hate fueled by weapons of mass destruction. “Once again a man filled with anti-Semitic bigotry targeted the Jewish community on Shabbat at the conclusion of Passover, this time on the six month anniversary of the tragic mass shooting at Tree of Life. Over the years I and many of my colleagues have repeated the mantra ‘Never Again.’ If we are going to be true to that goal, then those of us who have the power to give that call to action meaning must act.” Read more
The Pennsylvania SAFE Caucus is a group of legislators who believe in working together to reduce all types of violence in society through adequate funding for mental health services; stronger tools for law enforcement; resources to deal with the effects of addiction and illegal drug trade; and solutions that reduce gun violence and promote public safety. State Rep. Dan Frankel, a founding member of PA SAFE Caucus. speaks in PIttsburgh following the deadly shooting at Tree of Life. Read more
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