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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 11, 2019 10:03 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Daylin Leach |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Collecting, Studying, and Publishing Data on Guns used in Crimes |
| Mass shootings, like the recent tragedy in Parkland, Florida, receive national media coverage and substantial public attention, but they represent a small fraction of firearm-related crime in the United States. With a thorough understanding of how firearms end up being used in crimes, our citizens and lawmakers can better understand the policies we need to curb this violence. How many guns are used in crimes each year? Where do they come from? How does a gun sold by a dealer make its way into the hands of a criminal? I believe the answers to these questions, and others, lie among the data the Pennsylvania State Police collects on an ongoing basis. Soon I will reintroduce legislation creating a mechanism by which that data is transferred to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, which would then partner with an educational institution to organize, analyze, and publish the data. PCCD would receive reimbursement for the cost it incurs via a $10 fee paid by people who commit crimes that involve a firearm. Crimes are always more dangerous when they involve a gun. By giving us the tools to understand the root causes of illegal gun use, we can stop guns from getting into the hands of those who will use them to commit violent crimes. This bill was known as Senate Bill 1138 during the 2017-2018 session. It was cosponsored by Senators Fontana, Costa, Street, Schwank and Hughes. Please join me in supporting this important legislation. If you have questions about this legislation, please don’t hesitate to contact me. |
Introduced as SB817