HARRISBURG (TNS) — Gov. Tom Wolf and leading Senate Democrats went on the attack this week against a Republican-backed bill that would let Pennsylvanians carry firearms in concealed or open fashion, jettisoning the need for a license to carry.
State Sen. Cris Dush, R-Jefferson, in April introduced the bill that took the brunt of criticism during a news conference in the Capitol.
“Citizens who pass a criminal background check to purchase a new firearm are the least likely to commit an offense with a firearm,” Dush wrote in a memo about the bill. “It is patently unjust and constitutionally questionable to add layers of bureaucratic regulations on these law abiding citizens just because they prefer to carry their weapon concealed.”
Passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee in June on an 8-5, party-line vote, the bill is awaiting action by the full, Republican-controlled Senate.
At a news conference Tuesday, held one day before the third anniversary of the Tree of Life synagogue murders in Pittsburgh, Sen. Jay Costa of Allegheny County, Democratic leader in the Senate, said the bill and another firearms-related measure were recently poised to be considered by the full Senate, until Democrats caused a delay.
Erica Wright, a spokesperson for Senate Republican Leader Kim Ward of Westmoreland County, called the Democrats’ news conference “presumptuous” and said there was no intent to take action on firearms-related legislation this week.
Costa called both bills “dangerous” and “extremely reckless.” Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, called them “bizarre legislation” that would make it easier for guns to proliferate.
“Shame on them,” Hughes said of Republicans. “We have to do better.”
Democrats also criticized a second bill, which was introduced by Sen. Wayne Langerholc, R-Cambria. A memo introducing that bill said it would prevent local jurisdictions from imposing ordinances on firearms or ammunition that were more restrictive than state laws.
Wolf called the two bills “dangerous legislation that would make us all less safe.”
He said the Legislature should pass gun safety measures that he has sought for a long time. He identified them as:
• Passing safe storage legislation Wolf said would reduce the number of shootings by people who should not have access to guns, including accidental shootings by children.
• Tightening reporting requirements for lost or stolen guns.
• Passing a bill on extreme-risk protection orders, also known as the red flag law.
• Having state-level universal background checks on all gun purchases.
Wolf called gun violence “pervasive” and said, “we cannot stand by and do nothing.” He called the Legislature “out of touch” with Pennsylvanians.
Adam Garber, executive director of the anti-gun violence organization CeaseFirePA, called the bills a “deadly duo” and said the Dush bill was opposed by district attorneys and state police.
Wednesday was the third anniversary of the Oct. 27, 2018, shootings at the Tree of Life-Or L’Simcha synagogue that caused 11 deaths in the deadliest antisemitic attack in U.S. history.
Wright said, ”The press conference held today by the governor and Democratic leadership was presumptuous as we are not running Second Amendment bills in the Senate this week.”
