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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | August 15, 2019 04:11 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Sharif Street |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Restrictions on the Sale and Purchase of Military Grade Weapons and Accessories |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to put restrictions on the sale and purchase of military grade weapons and accessories. According to Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a military grade weapon is defined as having the capacity to release a large amount of ammunition in a short amount of time all while the user keeps complete control of the weapon. Accessories to these weapons are added with the purpose of causing additional harm to the proposed target in a manner more efficient than before. Military grade ammunition can also be easily purchased, including body armor piercing bullets which are colloquially called “cop killers” on the streets. These accessories and others were made for no purpose other than taking the life of another human being. We see the violence committed through use of these weapons with alarming frequency. Military grade weapons and accessories have been used in mass shootings just this year, including the tragedies of Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh, PA, in Dayton, OH, and in El Paso, TX, and other that join a shocking and growing list highlighting the reality of gun violence in the United States. The most recent mass shooting in the city of Philadelphia on August 14th, 2019 caused injuries to 6 police officers who were faced with the open fire with the use of a military grade assault weapon while trying to serve the suspect a warrant. This stands as the 313th mass shooting to happen in 2019 so far. Numbers will continue to rise and lives will continue to be lost if we do not advocate for the safety and well-being of all citizens throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through comprehensive restrictions on military grade weapons. These weapons were created to be used in military and police operations as a last resort and have no place for use in the lives of civilians. Military grade weapons and accessories are weapons of war that are destructive in nature and cause irreparable damage. They have no place in our communities. I urge you to join me as a co-sponsor of this important piece of legislation. If you have any questions, please contact my Policy Director, Micah Mahjoubian, at micah@pasenate.com. |