Spring Break
City passes disputed gun control laws
Jordan Osecki
Issue date: 5/11/07 Section: News
The Philadelphia City Council unanimously passed eight gun control laws on May 3, and has filled suit against the state General Assembly for control over city gun regulations.
The bills include measures that will keep a citywide gun registry, limit gun purchases to one per month, punish those who do not report lost or stolen weapons and prevent "straw purchases," among other measures.
A straw purchase is when an individual eligible to own a gun purchases one and then transfers it illegally to someone with a criminal record who otherwise could not own a gun.
Another component of the council's plan would require ammunition sales to be monitored by the Philadelphia Police Department. The legislation also calls for banning some assault weapons and mandatory reporting of lost or stolen guns to the PPD.
The city council is seeking the authority to regulate gun laws within Philadelphia. Gun laws are currently under state jurisdiction. "While PA has a very large number of gun owners and hunters, in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and in several other urban areas, guns are being used to kill humans, not animals. There is a difference between urban and rural PA that needs to be recognized," said Julia Hall, coordinator of the criminal justice program at Drexel.
"The state has the duty to protect the citizens of Philadelphia, and they aren't doing everything they can to do so," according to William Carter, the Chief Legislative Aide for Councilman Darrell L. Clarke.
These gun laws, according to Carter, will go a long way towards curbing gun violence and the homicide rate.
Joe Grace, spokesman for Mayor John Street, told the Northeast Pennsylvania News that Street is expected to sign the bills this week and supports the "legislative efforts to reduce and prevent gun violence in Philadelphia."
Virginia and New York have seen a reduction in gun violence since adopting a one-gun-per-month law, and Carter pointed at how New York City, an area with 8 million people, has fewer homicides so far this year than Philadelphia (a city of approximately 1.5 million).
The bills include measures that will keep a citywide gun registry, limit gun purchases to one per month, punish those who do not report lost or stolen weapons and prevent "straw purchases," among other measures.
A straw purchase is when an individual eligible to own a gun purchases one and then transfers it illegally to someone with a criminal record who otherwise could not own a gun.
Another component of the council's plan would require ammunition sales to be monitored by the Philadelphia Police Department. The legislation also calls for banning some assault weapons and mandatory reporting of lost or stolen guns to the PPD.
The city council is seeking the authority to regulate gun laws within Philadelphia. Gun laws are currently under state jurisdiction. "While PA has a very large number of gun owners and hunters, in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and in several other urban areas, guns are being used to kill humans, not animals. There is a difference between urban and rural PA that needs to be recognized," said Julia Hall, coordinator of the criminal justice program at Drexel.
"The state has the duty to protect the citizens of Philadelphia, and they aren't doing everything they can to do so," according to William Carter, the Chief Legislative Aide for Councilman Darrell L. Clarke.
These gun laws, according to Carter, will go a long way towards curbing gun violence and the homicide rate.
Joe Grace, spokesman for Mayor John Street, told the Northeast Pennsylvania News that Street is expected to sign the bills this week and supports the "legislative efforts to reduce and prevent gun violence in Philadelphia."
Virginia and New York have seen a reduction in gun violence since adopting a one-gun-per-month law, and Carter pointed at how New York City, an area with 8 million people, has fewer homicides so far this year than Philadelphia (a city of approximately 1.5 million).
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 20
JR Hurd
posted 5/11/07 @ 6:33 AM EST
Once again the problems are blamed on the law abiding gun owners. I bet the criminals in Philly are cowering in back alleys trying to draw up a new plan that will allow them to continue their livelihoods. (Continued…)
mike
posted 5/11/07 @ 8:42 AM EST
No one would ever think to acquire guns illegally.
Bill
posted 5/11/07 @ 10:12 AM EST
Criminals will no doubt fall into line with this!
What kind of moron thinks "If we only had one more gun law, Perhaps we would stumble onto the magical one all the criminals will obey"
Oh ya right! that would be Philadelphia City Council. (Continued…)
Sam
posted 5/11/07 @ 12:21 PM EST
Hitler was the first to enact gun control. The single biggest killer of humans in the 20th Century was their own governments. Although tragic, it's less sad to lose a few victims to crime instead of millions to a tyranical gov't like the Nazis or Communists. (Continued…)
DJStu
posted 5/11/07 @ 1:25 PM EST
If city council feels such a "duty" to protect it's citizens, then why not make laws allowing said citizens to protect THEMSELVES. Police can never be everywhere at once. (Continued…)
SteveyBulletz
posted 5/11/07 @ 2:56 PM EST
Gun control lawas are what one could classify as technicalities. However, as long as civilization has existed laws against killing or injuring someone could be classified as basic. (Continued…)
Saturdaynightspecial
posted 5/11/07 @ 3:07 PM EST
I've never seen such a short news article containing so many lies.
Let's see; one gun a month - how does that curb gun violence ? Do Philly murderers put off their killing after being prohibited from their second or third gun purchase ? Is there a pattern of only one killing per month per gun purchase per individual ?
Was it the second or third gun purchase that finally set off the Virginia Tech killer ?
James Devereaux
posted 5/11/07 @ 5:26 PM EST
The last time I looked, only the State of Pennsylvania has the authority to regulate firearms in the Commonweath of Pennsylvania. If the City of Philadelphia doesn't like the law it has two choices. (Continued…)
Tony
posted 5/13/07 @ 12:33 AM EST
Pittsburgh, on the other side of the State, has murder rate which is a fraction of what plagues Philadelphia. They operate under the same laws as the rest of Pennsylvania. (Continued…)
Keith
posted 5/16/07 @ 5:45 PM EST
"The state has the duty to protect the citizens of Philadelphia"
States and cities and their police departments are under no obligation to protect individual citizens. (Continued…)
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