PA Bill Number: SB945
Title: Consolidating the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code; and making repeals.
Description: Consolidating the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), known as The County Code; and making repeals. ...
Last Action: Third consideration and final passage (199-0)
Last Action Date: Apr 17, 2024
Pittsburgh approves gun-control bills; opponents threaten suit against city :: 04/02/2019
Pittsburgh City Council approved three gun-control bills Tuesday in a 6-3 final vote that attracted gun-rights advocates and family members of Tree of Life victims to council chambers — and the threat of lawsuits.
The bills that would ban the use of certain assault-style weapons and ammunition as well as allow courts to temporarily confiscate weapons from those who post an “extreme risk” to themselves or others were introduced just weeks after a gunman killed 11 worshipers and wounded others at the Squirrel Hill synagogue.
Authorities say the gunman used an AR-15 rifle, among other weapons, during the mass shooting.
“We’re pretty happy we’ve gone through the process, we’ve made changes listening to a number of people,” councilman Corey O’Connor, who introduced the bills along with councilwoman Erika Strassburger and the mayor’s office, said after the vote. “I think the colleagues who stuck with us were very brave in doing so, and even the colleagues who voted against wanted to have a gun conversation.”
The National Rifle Association said it was assisting Pittsburgh residents in filing a lawsuit in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. The organization said the suit would challenge the city’s definition of “large capacity magazines” under the new ordinances.
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“Pittsburgh residents have a right to carry the self-defense tool that best suits their needs and the NRA is proud to support this challenge to the city’s magazine ban,” said Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, in a press release.
"As you look around this country and around this world, legislative bodies are challenging the validity or preemption laws and laws that would put elected officials through a criminal process for taking on the gun manufacturing lobby," said Mayor Bill Peduto on Tuesday evening.
"We have not been able to get any movement in Harrisburg and Washington, and the answer is just don't do nothing. We've seen what doing nothing has done. It has led to an escalation in severe mass murders. And we're going to take action on a local level.
"So we're not surprised about the lawsuit. We anticipated it. And we look forward to the next part of this challenge, which will be through the court system."
He said the city will work with organizations that will provide pro bono help defending any lawsuit.
Tuesday’s vote followed the same lines as last week’s committee vote, with council members Anthony Coghill, Darlene Harris and Theresa Kail-Smith voting against the measures, citing state preemption of local gun regulation.
Ms. Strassburger, who is on maternity leave, voted yes by phone.
Three opponents of the bills delivered public comment before the vote.
“I have plenty of guns, I collect them. I live in the 31st ward, three hundred feet from my house is West Mifflin. … If I can’t protect myself, why do I want to live here [in Pittsburgh]?” said Dennis Jordan, who lives in the city’s Lincoln Place neighborhood.
Pennsylvania state law forbids municipalities from regulating guns, and pro-gun advocates vowed to sue to block the laws from taking effect. Last month, in an effort to write legislation that would not run afoul of state preemption, council voted to amend the bills, which had called for banning the possession of certain weapons and accessories. Instead they ban the use of those weapons and accessories within city limits. “Use” includes loading and firing.
Despite an existing city ordinance that already prohibits firing a gun within city limits, Mr. O’Connor said “going the ‘use’ route gives us still some protection for our residents when people who have assault weapons go out into the general public.”
Mr. Peduto said he will work with council members to set up a bill signing event. Opponents of the measure promised to act quickly after he does so.
“I’m certainly disappointed in the vote today, and as soon as the mayor signs [the bills], we’ll be proceeding with the private criminal complaints [against] council members who voted for the measure and the mayor if and when he signs,” said Val Finnell, a physician and gun-rights advocate from McKees Rocks who unsuccessfully attempted to file the criminal complaints in January. “It’s illegal. It’s unconstitutional, and you heard Councilwoman Harris say that today. She’s absolutely right, and there’s got to be consequences.”
Supporters of the legislation applauded in council chambers after the final vote was taken.
“I think it’s a great day for Pittsburgh,” said Rob Conroy, director of organizing for CeaseFire PA, who lives in the city. “It is absolutely imperative that someone, some form of government take action on this issue. … We have bodies dropping every single day in all sorts of neighborhoods in the city limits, and we had a hate crime in October.”
Jo Schlesinger, whose ex-husband is still recovering from a gunshot wound he suffered during the Tree of Life shooting, called council’s passing of the bills “a really huge brave thing.”
“It’s such an emotional tense issue. The pro-gun lobby is incredibly strong,” Ms. Schlesinger, of Edgewood, said. “The fact that three council members voted against it, while I understand their reasoning, I think it was the fact that six voted for it meant that their feelings about needing to do something overrode the fear. Today is the beginning of momentum for me.”
The Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action, part of the national advocacy organization Everytown for Gun Safety, praised the vote as a “much needed first step” in a statement issued Tuesday.
Several people wearing Moms Demand Action T-shirts sat in the front row of council chambers Tuesday.
Ashley Murray: amurray@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1750 or on Twitter at @Ashley__Murray. Associated Press contributed.
