From CeaseFirePA (http://www.ceasefirepa.org):
When Anthony Merriett Jr. walked outside to grab equipment for his documentary on gun violence, he couldn’t have known the very subject matter was about to take his life.
Merriett Jr. was shot and killed Monday night in Philadelphia while interviewing gun violence survivors — the crisis is even destroying attempts to tell Philly’s story of gun violence.
Other cities across Pennsylvania are struggling to address gun violence, whether in the form of suicide, homicides, or accidental shootings. Yet, Harrisburg still stops cities from Pittsburgh to Scranton to Philadelphia from implementing solutions tailored to their communities’ needs.
Go to https://ceasefirepa.salsalabs.org/endpreemptioninpapetition/index.html to sign our petition telling the General Assembly to let cities save their residents’ lives.
Philadelphia has passed a number of sensible regulations, including gun licensing and one-gun-a-month regulations, but it’s been barred from enforcing them by the Commonwealth’s Firearm Preemption Laws.¹
Pittsburgh pushed to pass Extreme Risk Protection Orders following the Tree of Life Synagogue mass shooting, but it had to stay the ordinances following lawsuits from gun rights groups.²
And when Scranton City Council tried to introduce a lost and stolen gun reporting proposal, dozens of armed protestors stormed the hearing, and the legislation was ultimately tabled due to fear of lawsuits.³
We know that communities experience gun violence differently and need local solutions in addition to state-level protections. But as long as Harrisburg ties local hands, our cities won’t be able to implement the most effective tactics to combat violence. By signing this petition, you can demonstrate to the General Assembly that ending preemption has statewide consensus.
Anthony Merriett Jr. didn’t get the chance to finish telling his story about gun violence in Pennsylvania — we still have time to rewrite the ending.
Sign your name to end gun violence preemption in Pennsylvania.
¹CeaseFirePA, “CeaseFirePA & City of Philadelphia Announce Lawsuit Compelling Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to Address Gun Violence.” October 8, 2020.
²Hughes, Sarah Anne. “Preemption, explained: How Pennsylvania’s biggest city and the Legislature grapple over power.” July 26, 2019, Penn Capital-Star.
³Times Tribune. “Scranton City Council tables legislation on lost and stolen guns.” September 29, 2009.
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