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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Jay Purdy |
State Rep. John Myers |
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Myers: Next measure for new gun law is results
HARRISBURG, Aug. 10 – Pennsylvania’s new gun
law takes effect in mid-September, and state Rep. John Myers, D-Phila., said today
he’s going to be watching closely for results.
The new law contains language included by Myers that requires police to trace the source of firearms illegally possessed by anyone under 21 through the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to determine the source and counter it.
Myers said the new law should prove especially helpful in combating “straw purchases” by someone with a clean arrest record who then turns the firearm over to an individual who could not make a legal purchase. Myers said that strategy is sometimes used by drug dealers to obtain weapons through the users who depend on them as their source of drugs.
Myers said the approval of the bill is a legislative landmark in Pennsylvania, being the first time in recent memory that the National Rifle Association has cooperated in advancing a measure specifically to help curb urban violence. Myers said that in the past, the NRA opposed any gun-control measure, including the least bit of additional gun control put forth by legislators seeking more tools to curb rising urban gunfire, based on the argument that it would endanger the right of law-abiding people to bear arms.
The cooperation came about after House members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus declared they would not vote for a state budget unless something concrete was done to strengthen the fight against the rising incidence of gun violence in Philadelphia and elsewhere in the Commonwealth.
“We’re not going to go away now that we’ve made progress,” Myers said. “From my perspective, we’re going to build on it. I welcome working with the NRA further to get illegal guns off the streets. Hopefully, they will continue to recognize the reality of the situation here in Philadelphia and work sincerely to assist us in finding more ways to counter the nightmare.”
Myers himself has been personally touched by the rise in gun violence. One year ago, his son was abducted at gunpoint and has not been located. One suspect awaits a second trial after the first ended in a mistrial.
“Every single gun that we stop from getting on the streets through this new law can mean one less victim and one less family that has to deal with the pain and anguish,” Myers added. “This new law is not the conclusion of our campaign -- it’s only the beginning.”
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