The Pennsylvania Legislature, long controlled by Republicans, has not seriously considered broadening gun-control measures since 2018.

In Philadelphia, gun violence played a big role in the campaign for mayor, and the city is asking the state’s highest court to allow it to impose its own gun-control policies. is setting a record pace for mass killings in 2023. The bills that make it through the House must still go through the Republican-controlled Senate, which has historically been protective of gun rights, while working with Democrats to boost funding for anti-violence and mental health programs. Repeat offenders would have faced a misdemeanor charge.Ī fourth measure in the package, which would require long-barreled firearms to be sold with trigger locks, did not come up for a vote. “This is a modest bill, with a modest impact, that will have real impact on some of the most lethal weapons in our Commonwealth.”Ī third bill, which failed by a 100-101 vote, would have required gun owners to report a lost or stolen firearm to police within three days. This is not a heavy lift,” said House Majority Leader Matthew Bradford of Montgomery County. Nineteen states have similar laws, according to Everytown for Gun Safety, a leading gun control advocacy group. The “red flag” bill, which would allow a judge to order the seizure of firearms if asked by family members or police, passed on a 102-99 vote, with two Republicans voting alongside Democrats, and one Democrat flipping to vote with Republicans. “While this is just the first step, by passing these commonsense and responsible gun safety measures we’ve shown our neighbors and communities that we are listening and we are acting, and that we stand with them in combating senseless gun violence,” said House Speaker Joanna McClinton, a Philadelphia Democrat. Republicans oppose the bills, saying they punish law-abiding gun owners. The party describes the proposals as relatively moderate measures to cut down on gun trafficking, suicide deaths, accidental shootings and day-to-day violence. (AP) - Authorities could temporarily seize firearms and background checks would be expanded for gun buyers, under two bills passed Monday in the Pennsylvania House, where Democrats are using their razor-thin majority to push gun-control measures after a yearslong standstill in the politically divided government.

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