
“In just the past few months, Americans have born witness to gun tragedy after gun tragedy, leaving torn communities, mourning families, and broken trust behind. As legislators, we are obligated to use the power of the state government to make our commonwealth safer and prevent gun violence wherever we can. I am so heartened to see that my colleagues in the House are meeting this chaotic moment with commonsense, popular solutions to the scourge of gun violence destroying our shared sense of safety. I urge my Republican Senate colleagues in the strongest possible terms to take up these bills swiftly. Senate Democrats stand strong and united, prepared to deliver safe communities to all 67 counties in Pennsylvania. The time to rise above party and link arms in opposition to needless, senseless gun violence is now. Let’s get it done.”
SENATE DEMOCRATIC LEADER
JAY COSTA
Together, we can end gun violence.
Senate Democrats Kick Off National Gun Violence Prevention Month
Every Pennsylvanian deserves to live a life free from gun violence. To achieve this, we must:
Ban Assault Weapons
We must prohibit ownership of assault weapons such as the AR-15, including its high capacity ammunition feeding devices, and other accessories, that have become the tool of choice in mass murders.
Mental Health in Schools
Recognizing the particular vulnerability that exists in our schools, we propose a new requirement that each school must provide school psychologists, school counselors, and school social workers to meet the mental health needs of their students. Offering these services will go a long way toward intervening with students that might commit the worst violence and to greatly improve school climate and student performance.
Extreme Risk Protections
Implementation of legislation to allow for courts to order public protection orders if a person is demonstrating dangerous mental health characteristics would provide much needed protection to the public. Such an order would temporarily suspend an individual’s access to firearms if there is documented evidence that a person is threatening to harm themselves or others. The person subject to that order must surrender their guns to police and will not be able to buy, sell, or possess other firearms with a judge determining the time frame of this suspension not to exceed one year.
Safe Storage Requirements
Too many firearm incidents happen because of improperly securing guns to prevent them from getting into the wrong hands, including children or unwell individuals. Requiring gun locks and safe storage are commonsense prevention options.
Universal Background Checks
While this should be common sense, expanding our current system of background checks to ALL firearm sales is a priority. Currently, certain gun show purchases and person-to-person sales do not require a basic background check. Every firearm sale in Pennsylvania needs to undergo a background check. Period.
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Legislation to Save Lives & Make Pennsylvania’s Communities Safer
Legislation to Save Lives & Make Pennsylvania’s Communities Safer
Senate Bill 42
This bill would amend Title 18 to ensure 3D-printed firearms are subject to the Uniform Firearm Act and would ensure a 3D-printed firearm is considered a firearm. In addition, the legislation would prohibit anyone from printing a firearm without a license from the Federal Government to manufacture firearms. (Hughes)
Senate Bill 262
This bill would empower families and police officers to petition a court to temporarily remove firearms from someone who is a threat to themselves or others. (Fontana)
Senate Bill 769
This bill would require gun owners to safely store firearms when not under direct control of the owner. (Santarsiero, Cappelletti)
Senate Bill 43
This bill would amend the Uniform Firearm Act to make it crystal clear that an undetectable firearm or a “ghost gun” is defined as a firearm. (Hughes)
SB 348
This bill would require lost or stolen firearms be reported to local law enforcement authorities within 24 hours. (Tartaglione)
Senate Bill 770
This bill would require safe storage of firearms when children are present in the home. (Santarsiero, Cappelletti)
Machine Gun Conversion Device Ban
This bill would prohibit the possession, use, sale, transfer, and production of machine gun conversion devices in Pennsylvania. (Tartaglione)
Senate Bill 47
This bill would amends the Uniform Firearms Act (“UFA”) to impose strict civil and criminal liability on any person, licensed importer, licensed dealer or licensed manufacturer who knowingly and intentionally sells, delivers or transfers a firearm in violation of the UFA if that gun is subsequently used in a crime or attempted crime. (Hughes)
SB 559
This bill would prohibit the sale or possession of assault weapons for individuals under the age of 21. Members of the armed services would be exempt from this law. This legislation would bring Pennsylvania gun laws in line with Federal law regarding the minimum age of purchasing handguns.
(Kane)
Senate Bill 209
This bill would require firearm owners to carry liability insurance for their weapons. (Cappelletti)
Senate Bill 768
This bill would require gun owners to safely store firearms if a person who cannot legally possess a firearm lives in the owner’s residence. (Santarsiero, Cappelletti)
Senate Bill 798
This bill would require firearms to be checked in and safely stored at municipal buildings in the Commonwealth. (Boscola)
Enough is Enough
Our Members at Work
Senator Tartaglione to Introduce Legislation Banning Machine Gun Conversion Devices Following Deadly Shootings
New Report Signals Community Groups are a Key Driver in the Reduction of Gun Violence in Philadelphia
Senator Hughes Commits to Voting for New, Ghost Gun Legislation
Senate Dems Discuss Need for Universal Background Checks at Philly Hearing
Moms Demand Action Press Conference
Senator Art Haywood Joins Phila. Ceasefire for Joint Press Conference on Northwest Peace Plan
Sen. Collett Recognizes Gun Violence Awareness Month with Renewed Call to Action
Gun Violence Prevention Rally
Senator Santarsiero Announces $50 Million for Investigation and Prosecution of Gun Crimes
Senate Democrats Discuss Secondary Impacts of Gun Violence at Policy Hearing
Sen. Street Statement on July 4th Shootings
Senator Lindsey M. Williams Announces Three Education Bills Aimed at Improving Student Mental Health
Gov. Tom Wolf Signs Executive Order on Gun Violence
August 16, 2019: Governor Tom Wolf signs an executive order to make sweeping changes to executive branch agencies and programs to better target the public health crisis of gun violence. The executive order is the result of months of work by Governor Wolf and his administration to focus on substantive steps that can be taken to reduce gun violence and make communities safer. Governor Wolf was joined by Senators Jay Costa and Anthony H. Williams.
In Remembrance
Senate Democrats Remember Victims of Gun Violence and Call for Action
Senate Democrats join Gov. Wolf and U.S. Senator Bob Casey for a bipartisan event in remembrance of the victims of all gun violence and as a call-for-action after a weekend of mass shootings and a continued deaf-ear response from federal and state lawmakers to take up stricter gun laws.