PA Bill Number: HB335
Title: In inchoate crimes, further providing for prohibited offensive weapons.
Description: In inchoate crimes, further providing for prohibited offensive weapons. ...
Last Action: Removed from table
Last Action Date: May 1, 2024
Delco (PA) pols join push for gun background checks :: 11/04/2015
Bills that would close a loophole in Pennsylvania’s current background check law for gun purchases are gaining bipartisan support in both the state Senate and House of Representatives with Delaware County legislators leading the way for Republican co-sponsorship.
Only one member of Delaware County’s legislative delegation in Harrisburg had not signed on as a co-sponsor of the proposal as of last Wednesday.
All four of Delaware County’s bipartisan delegation in the Pennsylvania Senate are co-sponsors of Senate Bill 1049 that state Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-7, of Philadelphia introduced Thursday. They include state Sens. Daylin Leach, D-17, of Upper Merion, Anthony Hardy Williams, D-8, of Philadelphia, Dominic Pileggi, R-9, of Chester and Tom McGarrigle, R-26, of Springfield.
“Once again, Delaware County legislators are demonstrating unprecedented bipartisanship on the issue of gun policy,” said Terry Rumsey, co-chair of Delaware County United for Sensible Gun Policy.
State Rep. Steve Barrar, R-160, of Upper Chichester, is the only one of Delaware County’s Harrisburg delegation of 11 state representatives and four senators who is not a co-sponsor of the updated background check proposal.
“By just passing this background check legislation, all you’re doing is adding another law that won’t be enforced,” Barrar told the Daily Times Oct. 14. “We have dozens of gun laws on our books, and most are not enforced the ways our legislators intended them to be enforced.”
Senate Bill 1049 — an updated version of Senate Bill 777 — is a companion piece to the updated version of House Bill 1010 introduced in the state House of Representatives Oct. 23 by state Rep. Steve Santarsiero, D-31, of Bucks County. It would require universal background checks for purchases of all guns through licensed dealers or privately, including at gun shows. It also provides for one background check per 48-hour gun show. Only transfers of guns within families would be exempt from background checks, as they are now.
“I do think it makes the law a little bit tougher without infringing on the rights of honest people who legitimately want to own guns,” said McGarrigle, who signed on as a co-sponsor Oct. 23.
Current Pennsylvania law requires background checks for all firearms purchased from licensed dealers and for handguns purchased privately, but not for the private purchase of long guns such as military assault-type weapons. The updated House Bill 1010 and Senate Bill 1049 would close that gap.
“This legislation is one piece of a much larger conversation but is an important step in limiting the accessibility criminals have to firearms while protecting the rights and freedoms of decent Pennsylvanians,” said McGarrigle.
The Republican senator noted that while he feels Second Amendment rights are important, he is concerned about individuals who should not be in possession of firearms, having the option of purchasing rifles because background checks are not required for private purchase from individuals at gun shows or elsewhere.
“We cannot allow those with criminal intent to have access to powerful rifles simply because a five-minute background check was not required,” said McGarrigle.
Michael Deery, deputy chief counsel for Hughes, said Senate Bill 1049 had eight co-sponsors as of Thursday. Rumsey noted that McGarrigle and Pileggi were the first two Republicans in the state Senate to become co-sponsors.
“As Republicans, the action taken by Sens. Pileggi and McGarrigle indicate that they bring both courage and common sense to their stance of gun policy,” said Rumsey.
State Rep. Jamie Santora, R-163, of Upper Darby was the first Republican in the state House to sign on as a co-sponsor.
“I truly believe it’s the first bill that doesn’t take Second Amendment rights away,” said Santora on Oct. 14.
Senate Bill 1049 is the third version of the universal background check bill introduced by Hughes since 2013. Its earlier versions had limited support, with the last earning five co-sponsors.
The updated House version of the background check bill had 52 co-sponsors as of Wednesday. Barrar is the only Delaware County state representative who is not a co-sponsor.
Barrar said he favors legislation he proposed late last spring that would require prosecution of unauthorized individuals such as felons or persons under Protection From Abuse orders who buy guns or try to buy guns and are exposed through background checks as they now exist in Pennsylvania. It has nearly 40 co-sponsors and is currently in the House Judiciary Committee, noted Barrar.
“There is such a small percentage of these people being prosecuted. State police leave them alone. If they try to buy guns they set off bells and whistles, but police don’t follow-up. They should, within 24 to 48 hours, make visits to these persons trying to buy guns and find out why they are trying to buy guns,” he said.
Barrar noted that even though he is not a co-sponsor of House Bill 1010, he is keeping an open mind and will follow its evolution before deciding whether to support it. Barrar added that because of the many amendments that may be attached to it, he does not want to co-sponsor a bill that may end up falling far afield of its original intent.
House Bill 1010 has already been amended since Santarsiero first introduced it in 2013.
http://www.mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2015/11/03/region/doc563778f0ae852227173829.txt
