One of the best things I respect about PA State Senator Vincent Hughes is that he doesn’t mince his words. When he comes before TV news station cameras and invites all the
media to a press conference he’s calling, be sure you are going to get the 411 on what’s really happening in Harrisburg. Senator Hughes was joined by Senators Jimmy Dillon, Art Haywood, Tim Kearney, the Pennsylvania Attorney General, and Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and community leaders to call attention to two common-sense gun bills that are one step away from being signed into law by Governor Shapiro.
On Thursday, July 20, that’s just what he did. He told the truth to the people of Philadelphia about where things stand with any action or inaction on gun laws with teeth.
House Bills 1018 and 714 would establish red flag laws and universal background checks in Pennsylvania. Senator Hughes stressed the need for these common sense gun laws and how a comprehensive approach can help in the overall fight to end gun violence.
“Nearly sixty days ago, the House of Representatives passed red flag laws and universal background checks in a bipartisan vote. Now, our Senators want a vote,” Senator Hughes said. “The last time we were here at Mander Playground, we announced $150 million dollars for neighborhood-based violence prevention organizations. Those grassroots investments are making a difference, but we also need these laws that will help law enforcement and communities Stop the shootings, Stop the violence, and Stop the fear that too many are feeling.”
Senator Hughes added, “The Governor is prepared to sign the bills. He has said he will sign them if they reach his desk. We want to work. These Senators you see here, we want to work. We want to pass commonsense gun laws.
We will also talk about ghost guns. Because we’re ready to do that work too. And given the recent shootings where ghost guns are directly tied to those shootings, they clearly need to be ghost gun laws that need to be passed in Pennsylvania.
What w know is this: We are one step away from passing commonsense gun laws in Pennsylvania, one step away. The votes passed in the House, They’re sitting in the Senate. They need to be called up for action in the Senate and then voted in the Senate, and then the Governor has said clearly; he will sign them.
PA State Senator Tim Kearney said, “I’m from Delaware County, and I’m the Democratic Chair of the multi-government committee. I bring that up because the multi-government committee is by far the most bi- partisan committee in Harrisburg, except for one issue. One size does not fit all in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We need to do exactly what Vince said. We need to get these bills up. We need to get them to have a hearing, which they haven’t had yet. We need to get them to vote on these bills in the Senate. Beyond that, we also need to get away from the idea that state law overrides every local law when it comes to guns, gun violence, and gun control. These are the things we need to do to make our cities safer, make our suburbs safer, and make our rural areas safer. We’re all affected.“
During the press conference, Rev. Gregory Holston stated, “I’m part of the 57 Blocks Coalition, which is made up of seventy-plus organizations that believe real gun violence strategies are possible in our communities. I’m glad to be standing here with all of the people who are here. This is really a complete multi-coalition of folk from all different backgrounds. We are only one step away from real change in terms of gun violence legislation in this state. The shooting that happened in Kingsessing, I was there at the prayer vigil that night. And I saw the pain. As a person of faith, I saw the pain of those family members who lost loved ones. That pain is not going to go away. I saw a community coming together, clergy, friends, leaders in the community, business owners, folk coming together to really bring feeling and wholeness to that community, the best way they know how.”
Senator Hughes was joined by Senators Jimmy Dillon ,…
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