Erie Council Votes to Becomes Ninth PA City to Pass Anti-Trafficking Law
August 05, 2009  —  On a 7 - 0 vote, the Erie City Council voted today to pass a law requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms to the police. This measure will remove a commonly used alibi employed by gun traffickers and help get illegal guns off the streets. Erie joins Lancaster, Wilkinsburg, Allentown, Pottsville, Reading, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh to become the ninth municipality in Pennsylvania to pass the requirement. ...

Lancaster Becomes Eighth PA City to Pass Anti-Trafficking Law
June 09, 2009  —  Tonight, the Lancaster City Council voted unanimously to pass a law requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms to the police. This measure will remove a commonly used alibi employed by gun traffickers and help get illegal guns off the streets. Lancaster joins Wilkinsburg, Allentown, Pottsville, Reading, Harrisburg, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh to become the eighth municipality in Pennsylvania to pass the requirement. ...

State House Takes Up Anti-Trafficking Legislation
March 17, 2008  —  The Pennsylvania State House debated a bill that would require gun owners to report their lost or stolen handguns to police. The important legislation would help stop illegal gun trafficking and the House's floor debate on Monday night was the first substantive action taken on common sense gun laws in several years. The debate was preceded by a large press conference and rally in the Capitol Rotunda which featured legislators and advocates from across the state. A vote on the legislation is expected when the House reconvenes at the end of March. ...

Philadelphia Rallies for Right to Pass Local Gun Laws
March 12, 2008  —  Members of the Philadelphia City Council were joined by Mayor Michael Nutter and state advocates and activists at a rally in the City Hall Courtyard On Wednesday. The event attracted hundreds of supporters and followed a hearing for the city's lawsuit that seeks to restore Philadelphia's right to enact their own gun laws. ...

Brady Campaign and Pennsylvania Coalition Meet with Key State Leader
July 18, 2007  —  In Reading, PA, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence along with CeasefirePA, the mayors of Reading, Allentown, York, Lancaster, and Philadelphia met with the Pennsylvania House Judiciary Chairman to map out a plan for combating illegal firearms trafficking. This was a positive step toward passing sensible gun laws in Pennsylvania. ...

House Judiciary Committee Concludes Public Hearings on Gun Violence
April 26, 2007  —  After listening to pleas for sensible gun violence legislation from across the state, the House Judiciary Committee met in Harrisburg and concluded it's series of field hearings on gun violence. Among those testifying in favor of the one-handgun-a-month bill were Col. Jeffery Miller, State Police Commissioner, Mayor Tom McMahon of Reading, Mayor Rick Gray of Lancaster, and members of the domestic violence prevention and gun violence prevention communities. ...

Governor Rendell Calls for Passage of One-Handgun-A-Month
March 27, 2007  —  In what may have been his strongest plea yet to enact passage of one-handgun-a-month legislation, Gov. Rendell implored the state legislators in Harrisburg to act as "citizen soldiers" and be less fearful of the gun lobby. "That law should be passed," Rendell said. "No one who is sane and rational would vote against one handgun a month." HB 22 the bill that seeks to stop the bulk purchase of handguns currently sits before the State House Judiciary Committee. ...

Philadelphia Suburban Voters Oust Longtime NRA Incumbent
November 08, 2006  —  In Pennsylvania's 161st House District in suburban Philadelphia, former criminal prosecutor and Iraq war veteran Bryan Lentz unseated NRA-endorsed Republican Tom Gannon, a 28-year incumbent. Lentz pledged that once elected, he would fight to pass proposals limiting handgun purchases to one per month, while Gannon refused to back numerous common sense gun violence prevention measures throughout his time in the State House. The Brady Campaign delivered thousands of direct mail advertisements and automated calls from Sarah Brady to households in the district, and gun violence prevention advocates organized literature drops and canvassing in the district. Click here to ...

Victims Demand Change from Pennsylvania Legislature
September 26, 2006  —  Today, more than 50 organizations and over 2,000 Pennsylvanians rallied at the state capitol to demand meaningful change from legislators in response to a spike in homicides in the state. The Pennsylvania Coalition to End Handgun Violence highlighted the need to to stop the flow of illegal handguns, enact smarter laws, support more effective law enforcement to curb gun crime, and to invest in a peaceful future by expanding opportunities for education and jobs. The rally received great press coverage from across the state generating countless favorable news articles and live television reports. Members of the coalition include ...

Pennsylvania Legislators Feel the Heat on Gun Trafficking
June 27, 2006  —  Mounting pressure from grassroots advocates has forced the Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee into action. The Committee met today to discuss a version of the one-handgun-per-month legislation. It is an encouraging sign that the Senate is poised to act, but advocates, joined by numerous editorials and columnists, continue to push for a stronger, more effective version of the legislation (see the PATH Coalition for details). ...