Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 18, 2023 11:07 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Jose Giral |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Statewide Gun Buyback Program |
| In the last few decades, gun buyback programs have been established in numerous cities, providing opportunities for individuals to sell their guns, decrease suicide risks, provide resources for education of safe storage, and aid local areas with identifying crime guns safely and anonymously. Bipartisan support for such programs is high, with 87 percent of Democrats, 73 percent of independents, and 66 percent of Republicans agreeing that buybacks are a good idea to curb the gun violence rampaging across the nation. For this reason, my legislation would require the Office of Attorney General to establish a statewide gun buyback program with the Commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police. Surrender would be anonymous and without prosecution for possession of a firearm. The participation of individual law enforcement officers and sheriffs would be voluntary, with those taking part able to aid investigations by checking firearms for involvement in crimes, returning stolen firearms to their rightful owner, and handling safe storage and disposal. As legislators, it is our duty to immediately take steps to address the dangers of gun violence. The Pennsylvania Gun Buyback program would do this, supporting the reduction of violence and crime in our constituents’ communities. Please join me in supporting this essential legislation to help reduce gun violence. |
Introduced as HB821