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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 20, 2021 03:34 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Christina D. Sappey and Rep. Stephen Kinsey |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Firearms Safety Training for First-Time Purchasers |
| According to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Center for Injury Research and Prevention, a third of all households with children have firearms that may be accessible to children and teenagers. Further, according to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, “more than 80 percent of firearms used by youth in a suicide attempt were kept in the home of the victim, a relative, or a friend, and about 80% of school shootings perpetrated by a minor are facilitated by kids and teens having access to unsecured and/or unsupervised guns.” We will soon introduce legislation, to ensure that firearm owners receive proper training prior to purchasing their first firearm. This bill would require that firearm purchasers receive training in areas of safe storage, suicide awareness, child access awareness, domestic violence awareness, road rage awareness/prevention and safe interaction with law enforcement while carrying a firearm. The Pennsylvania State Police would be responsible for administering these trainings and issuing firearm safety certificates upon successful completion. Requiring this type of training is not unprecedented. After Pennsylvania began requiring hunter education training before a first-time hunter/trapper could buy a Pennsylvania Hunting or Trapping License, hunting-related shooting incidents decreased by nearly 80%. I hope you will join us in co-sponsoring this important legislation to ensure the safety of our friends, families, and neighbors. |
Introduced as HB1846