|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
CONTACT: Stephany Dugan |
State Rep. Rosita Youngblood |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Youngblood legislation aims to increase handgun safety
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 7 – State Rep. Rosita Youngblood, D-Phila., announced the introduction of legislation (H.B. 291) that would require increased safety performance and manufacturing standards for handguns.
“Crimes involving handguns are increasing at an alarming rate,” Youngblood said. “My legislative goal is to increase public safety by developing stricter handgun safety standards and by requiring the Pennsylvania State Police to develop safety regulations that meet specific criteria.”
Requirements under Youngblood’s bill include:
- Handguns would have to be personalized so that they could only be fired when operated by the authorized user or users.
- The personalized handgun technology would have to be incorporated into the design of the handgun and be part of its original equipment, not an accessory.
- No personalized handgun could be manufactured to permit the personalized characteristics to be readily deactivated.
The Pennsylvania State Police would formulate the necessary testing procedures to determine if a handgun complies with the safety standard. If a handgun met the safety standards, the police would issue a certificate and the words “certified personalized handgun”, or an equivalent label, would be imprinted on the approved handgun at the manufacturer’s expense.
In addition, the legislation would include enforcement regulations and penalties for all violations. All handguns purchased four years prior to enactment of the legislation would be exempt from the regulations.
“Gun violence is an epidemic in Philadelphia and the entire Commonwealth,” Youngblood said. “The legislature needs to regulate the handgun industry so that the safety and security of Pennsylvanians are strengthened. My legislation would be a major step in addressing this urgent matter.”
###sad/2007/mjh
l:\print\releases\handguns.198