House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

NEW!

Subscribe to receive notifications of new Co-Sponsorship Memos circulated

By Member | By Date | Keyword Search

House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	March 1, 2023 12:08 PM
From:	Representative Craig Williams and Rep. Martina A. White
To:	All House members
Subject:	Prosecuting Felons in Possession of Guns in Philadelphia

Shortly, we will reintroduce legislation that grants the Attorney General concurrent jurisdiction to prosecute illegal gun-possession cases arising from arrests in the City of Philadelphia.  This is former HB 2275, which passed the House in 2022 with an overwhelming bipartisan vote.  Recall that HB 2275 was amended to include a Gun Violence Task Force (“GVTF”) in Philadelphia, which would include the Office of Attorney General, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and every local and federal law enforcement agency in the city.  The newly structured GVTF was negotiated with the Office of Attorney General and both parties of the House. Between 2018 and 2022, an astounding 9,745 individuals were shot in the city.  Of these shooting incidents, 1,854 proved fatal.  Statistics published by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency reveal the substantial disparity that exists between Philadelphia and the other counties of this Commonwealth when it comes to firearm violence and the deplorable rate at which prior-convicted felons in possession of firearms were prosecuted.  The Commission notes that the rates associated with the average assault by firearm (172.2 per 100,000 residents) and average robbery by firearm (142.5 per 100,000 residents) in the County of Philadelphia are more than three times higher than the next closest county.  Our legislation codifies the GVTF in statute for the first time. With every illegal gun-possession arrest of a prior convicted felon, the arresting law enforcement agency is required to report said arrest to the GVTF for potential prosecution.  After assessing the facts and circumstances of the case, including the severity of the charge(s) and prior criminal history of the defendant, the task force members (including the Attorney General or the U.S. Attorney) have the authority to assert prosecutorial jurisdiction over the matter.  Each year, the Attorney General is required to submit an annual report to the Appropriations and Judiciary Committees of both the House and Senate regarding the operations of the Gun Violence Task Force and the arrests, prosecutions, convictions, sentences, and expenditures stemming from the task force’s investigations and prosecutions.     By granting the Gun Violence Task Force the authority to investigate and prosecute felon-in-possession offenses in Philadelphia, we can help restore a sense of order and justice in a city where lawlessness has and continues to reign.  It is imperative that our laws are both respected and enforced to stem the tide of violence in our communities.   Please join us in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation.

---