Supporters of legislation to increase gun restrictions in protection-from-abuse and domestic violence cases rally at the state Capitol in Harrisburg on Sept. 24, 2018.
Ed Mahon / PA Post
Lawmakers, Gov. Wolf rally for Extreme Risk gun bill
The bill would allow temporary restriction of guns when a person is a danger to themselves or others.
-
Katie Meyer
Ed Mahon / PA Post
Supporters of legislation to increase gun restrictions in protection-from-abuse and domestic violence cases rally at the state Capitol in Harrisburg on Sept. 24, 2018.
(Harrisburg) — Afer a rare win last legislative session, advocates to prevent gun violence in Pennsylvania are attempting to move the needle on the issue once again.
They’re trying to pass a bill that would allow temporary restriction of guns when a person is a danger to themselves or others.
Gun control bills are always a tough sell in Harrisburg, and this one is no different.
It would allow police and family members to petition a judge to restrict a person’s ability to possess firearms, as long as they can prove the person is a danger to themself or others.
Last year, a version made a little progress, but ultimately stalled.
The restriction would be temporary.
Marc Levy / Associated Press
FILE PHOTO: Gov. Tom Wolf speaks at a rally in the Pennsylvania Capitol’s rotunda calling for lawmakers to take action on anti-gun violence legislation on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019 in Harrisburg, Pa.
Delaware County Democratic Representative Jennifer O’Mara said it would be particularly useful in cases where people are suicidal, like her father was.
“ERPA laws could have been a tool that my family could have used to try to save my father,” she said.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, almost two-thirds of gun deaths in Pennsylvania are suicides.
O’Mara spoke at a rally for the gun control group Moms Demand Action. Other speakers included Governor Tom Wolf and Auditor General Eugene DePasquale.
The concerted effort on this Extreme Risk Protection bill comes after Pennsylvania passed its first gun control law in years last legislative session — a measure that makes it easier to keep guns from convicted domestic abusers.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
