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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Jay Purdy |
State Rep. John Myers |
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House approves Myers gun bill amendment
HARRISBURG, July 12 – The state House today voted to approve a Senate bill amended by Rep. John Myers, D-Phila., that would require police to trace the source of guns illegally possessed by anyone under 21.
The vote was 192-6.
The bill, S.B. 623, would also include rifles among the firearms that would have to be traced through the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennsylvania State Police would be required to establish a registry of illegal firearms confiscated from people under 21. Myers originally submitted the confiscated gun registry as a separate bill (H.B. 24) but amending its language into the Senate bill opened the door to expediting the measure.
The overwhelming approval of the Myers amendment last week was a landmark in state legislative history; marking the first time that the National Rifle Association has cooperated in advancing measures to help curb urban violence. Previously, the NRA vehemently opposed any measure it believed might infringe on the right of law-abiding individuals to bear arms.
Through tracing the illegal weapons, police could determine how they were obtained, such as obtained through a theft or purchased legally by an individual who then turned the weapon over someone who could not legally make the purchase.
Unfortunately, Myers is especially familiar with the impact of firearms violence. Last year his son was abducted at gunpoint and has not been located. One suspect in the disappearance is awaiting a second trial after the first ended in a mistrial.
“This isn’t a personal accomplishment, it’s an accomplishment of the Legislative Black Caucus,” said Myers. “In unity last month, the caucus members dug in their heels and challenged the General Assembly and the governor saying that we wouldn’t act on a budget until the people of Philadelphia got new laws to fight the rising tide of shootings.
“The goal now is to get the Senate to agree, and have the governor sign it into law. Secondly, we want to build on this instant of cooperation with the NRA and get more legislation through that will help us weed out illegal firearms without impacted lawful gun owners.”
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