abpt1
02-07-2007, 07:34 AM
By Kori Walter
Reading Eagle
HARRISBURG - Gov. Ed Rendell on Tuesday renewed his push for stricter handgun laws and challenged the Legislature to rid Pennsylvania of gun trafficking.
In his budget address, Rendell cited a report by the Violence Policy Center in Washington, D.C., that showed 86 percent of homicides in Pennsylvania involved handguns.
“Gun violence is destroying the sense of community that connects us all,” Rendell said.
Rendell's proposal included limiting individuals to one handgun purchase per month.
It's a proposal Rendell had retreated from during his re-election campaign.
During a campaign stop in Reading in August, Rendell said he did not think the measure had enough support to pass.
But on Tuesday, Rendell embraced the idea once again.
“Such legislation will put a stop to gun runners who sell so many of our crime guns and will put no burden on lawful gun owners who can still purchase 12 handguns per year,” he said.
Rep. Thomas R. Caltagirone, a Reading Democrat, will have a major say in any crime legislation as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
Caltagirone offered a bleak forecast on the chances of Rendell's proposals becoming law.
“We don't have the votes on that floor on either side to get what he's asking for,” Caltagirone said. “I've done a straw poll of my (committee) members. I don't think I could get those bills out of my committee.”
Rep. Tim Seip, a Schuylkill County Democrat who represents part of Berks, said Rendell's plan to increase the penalty for possessing a stolen weapon may gain some support.
But Seip said that as a member of the National Riffle Association he does not support restricting handgun purchases.
“I don't want to limit the legal actions of Pennsylvania citizens or limit their Constitutional rights,” Seip said.
Reading Mayor Tom McMahon said he was in favor of handgun restrictions, particularly limiting handgun purchases to one per month for individuals.
“I applaud the governor's effort,” McMahon said. “I hope there's a way we can get to a one-gun-a-month rule and combat gun trafficking. It's too important an issue.”
William M. Heim, chief of the Reading police, said the department is focusing on getting people off the streets whom he calls “serial, career criminals with gun.”
The department is also working with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to combat straw purchases in which a criminal gets someone, often a drug addict, to go into a gun store and buy guns for him.
“Any tools we can get for those efforts would be valuable to police,” Heim said.
Berks County Commissioner Judith L. Schwank said gun violence is a major problem in the community.
“I think it's definitely an issue that's attracted a lot of attention in Berks,” Schwank said. “People have reached the point where they're saying, ‘This is enough! It's time for action.'
“I hope some of the governor's proposals will become law in the near future.”
Reading Eagle
HARRISBURG - Gov. Ed Rendell on Tuesday renewed his push for stricter handgun laws and challenged the Legislature to rid Pennsylvania of gun trafficking.
In his budget address, Rendell cited a report by the Violence Policy Center in Washington, D.C., that showed 86 percent of homicides in Pennsylvania involved handguns.
“Gun violence is destroying the sense of community that connects us all,” Rendell said.
Rendell's proposal included limiting individuals to one handgun purchase per month.
It's a proposal Rendell had retreated from during his re-election campaign.
During a campaign stop in Reading in August, Rendell said he did not think the measure had enough support to pass.
But on Tuesday, Rendell embraced the idea once again.
“Such legislation will put a stop to gun runners who sell so many of our crime guns and will put no burden on lawful gun owners who can still purchase 12 handguns per year,” he said.
Rep. Thomas R. Caltagirone, a Reading Democrat, will have a major say in any crime legislation as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
Caltagirone offered a bleak forecast on the chances of Rendell's proposals becoming law.
“We don't have the votes on that floor on either side to get what he's asking for,” Caltagirone said. “I've done a straw poll of my (committee) members. I don't think I could get those bills out of my committee.”
Rep. Tim Seip, a Schuylkill County Democrat who represents part of Berks, said Rendell's plan to increase the penalty for possessing a stolen weapon may gain some support.
But Seip said that as a member of the National Riffle Association he does not support restricting handgun purchases.
“I don't want to limit the legal actions of Pennsylvania citizens or limit their Constitutional rights,” Seip said.
Reading Mayor Tom McMahon said he was in favor of handgun restrictions, particularly limiting handgun purchases to one per month for individuals.
“I applaud the governor's effort,” McMahon said. “I hope there's a way we can get to a one-gun-a-month rule and combat gun trafficking. It's too important an issue.”
William M. Heim, chief of the Reading police, said the department is focusing on getting people off the streets whom he calls “serial, career criminals with gun.”
The department is also working with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to combat straw purchases in which a criminal gets someone, often a drug addict, to go into a gun store and buy guns for him.
“Any tools we can get for those efforts would be valuable to police,” Heim said.
Berks County Commissioner Judith L. Schwank said gun violence is a major problem in the community.
“I think it's definitely an issue that's attracted a lot of attention in Berks,” Schwank said. “People have reached the point where they're saying, ‘This is enough! It's time for action.'
“I hope some of the governor's proposals will become law in the near future.”