Against Illegal Guns in Pennsylvania

If you follow Community Matters, you know that I support stricter gun control legislation. At the risk of causing another heated exchange over the rights of gun owners, I have an issue with Daryl Metcalfe (R-12) House Bill 1523 that is on today's agenda in Harrisburg. The state House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to take a vote on Metcalfe’s proposed pro-gun legislation HB1523 that would hold municipalities financially accountable for enacting gun laws. (To read proposed HB1523, click here)

I understand the meaning of the 2nd amendment of the US Constitution, which protects the right of the people to keep and to bear arms. However, I think that most of us could agree that the 2nd amendment was not designed to protect the rights of people to keep and bear ‘illegal’ arms. Every year, thousands of criminals use guns that have been lost or stolen from legitimate owners.

A major research project is not necessary to know that most crimes in America are committed using illegal guns. However for the record, according to their website,www.wheredidtheguncomefrom.com, “… over 80% of guns recovered in crimes are obtained by perpetrators illegally.”

Assuming that you are a responsible gun owner and a supporter of the 2nd amendment; why would you not support keeping illegal guns off the street?  If you discovered that your firearm has been lost or stolen, why would you not support reporting it missing to the local police?  I cannot imagine under what conditions, a gun owner would not want to do this.

Reporting lost or stolen guns would help the local police with gun trafficking and crack down on straw purchases — people who buy guns and then sell them illegally to people who can’t buy them on their own.  Isn’t this commonsense reform? 

The tag line for Community Matters is “Your Voice Counts … Join the Conversation” and I support the right of free speech. The freedom to expression enables all of us to express our ideas, uncover truth and can evoke powerful emotion and effect change. Opinions expressed on Community Matters may not necessarily agree with mine, but I support and encourage their right to express those views. 

Understanding that my opposition against Pennsylvania HB 1523 may not have been a popular view held by some, I was still surprised to hear from members of the FOAC, Firearms Owners Against Crime, including their founder and current chairman, Kim Stolfer.  Mr. Stolfer is a major leader in the guns-rights movement in Pennsylvania and a candidate for District 37, Pennsylvania State Senate.  He delivers a strong message on Community Matters in support of HB 1523.

Whether you share my views on getting illegal guns off the streets or guns rights advocacy, I think you will find the comments and opinions from representatives of both sides interesting. 

To read the full story and comments, click here.