PA Bill Number: HB1507
Title: In hunting and furtaking licenses, further providing for resident license and fee exemptions.
Description: In hunting and furtaking licenses, further providing for resident license and fee exemptions. ...
Last Action: Re-committed to RULES
Last Action Date: Jun 3, 2025
Pittsburgh Presbytery calls for state ban on assault rifles :: 01/02/2017
The Pittsburgh Presbytery is urging state legislators to ban assault rifles used in recent high-profile shootings.
While Pennsylvania legislators have shown more willingness to expand than contract gun rights in recent sessions, the presbytery is nevertheless arguing that the U.S. Supreme Court allows for local regulations of arms sales and manufacturing. It says there are reduced “death rates due to gun violence in states which have rigorous gun safety provisions.”
The open letter to Pennsylvania legislators and congregations of the Pittsburgh Presbytery follows the passage of the statement at the Dec. 8 meeting of the presbytery. It represents 140 congregations and about 30,000 members of Allegheny County churches in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The letter cites the use of specific assault rifles in two recent massacres earlier in 2016 — the killings of five adults and an unborn child in Wilkinsburg in March and the killings of 49 at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Fla.
“We ... call on our commonwealth to ban this type of weapon from the state, city and county except for its use by governmental authorities,” the resolution states. It also calls for banning armor-piercing handgun ammunition and .50-caliber sniper rifles.
It urges “social justice and opportunity for oppressed populations and those aggrieved citizens tempted by violence.”
It recommends that Presbyterians “consider destroying their assault weapons” and that the church consider divesting financial support for those manufacturing them.
Peter Smith: petersmith@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1416; Twitter @PG_PeterSmith.
