In late May, the Pennsylvania House passed two gun safety bills with bipartisan support, and now House lawmakers want the GOP-controlled state Senate to advance them.
H.B 714 would require universal background checks for all gun sales. H.B 1018 would allow courts to confiscate a firearm if a gun owner is determined to be at-risk of harming themselves or others.
This week, House Majority Leader Matthew Bradford and violence prevention organization CeasefirePA hosted a community town hall on gun policies. H/T to WHYY reporter Sammy Caiola for covering the event.
“We haven’t seen meaningful gun safety legislation … for the better part of a decade now,” Bradford told a crowd of about 40 people. Audience members included high school students, health and education professionals, and violence prevention advocates, who also shared their thoughts.
Philly Firearms Academy founder José Morales said he supports laws that reduce harm without violating the Second Amendment.
“[Second Amendment people] want violence stopped, but we have to have conversations as well and be able to share in spaces like this,” Morales said.
15-year-old Martina Becerril, who grew up doing active shooter drills in school, wants to see the age limit for buying guns raised to 21.
