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House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	April 1, 2015 03:46 PM
From:	Representative Todd Stephens
To:	All House members
Subject:	Taking Aim at Violent Criminals – Mandatory Sentences for Felons Possessing Firearms

I will be re-introducing HB 1498 to combat gun violence and straw-purchasers in our Commonwealth. This bill passed the House last session 184-11. If we want to get serious about getting illegal guns off our streets we must get serious with the penalties we impose for felons violating our laws. Tougher penalties will deter felons from illegally possessing firearms as well as provide our prosecutors with tools to combat the straw purchasers who illegally provide these firearms. Currently we have no mandatory minimum sentence for felons who illegally possess firearms - my bill would impose a 5 year mandatory minimum sentence. My legislation would also designate the crime of a felon illegally possessing a firearm as a "crime of violence" triggering our second strike (10 year mandatory) and third strike (twenty-five year mandatory) provisions for repeat offenders. I hope you’ll join me by co-sponsoring this important legislation. The following members were co-sponsors of HB 1498 last session: R.BROWN , CALTAGIRONE, CARROLL , D.COSTA, DEASY, DeLUCA, FABRIZIO, FARRY, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GROVE, HESS, KAMPF, KORTZ, MARSHALL, MARSICO, MATZIE, R.MILLER, MILNE, MURT, NEILSON, O’BRIEN, READSHAW, SABATINA, SANTARSIERO, SIMMONS, SWANGER, THOMAS, TOEPEL, TRUITT, VEREB, WATSON, HACKETT, BRADFORD, C.PARKER, MOLCHANY, SCAVELLO, BARRAR, and ENGLISH

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