Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

I will soon introduce legislation to require firearm owners to carry liability insurance for their weapons.  
 

Gun violence costs Pennsylvania an estimated $12 million annually. Families directly impacted by gun violence face out-of-pocket costs for medical bills, mental health support, and lost wages. Taxpayers bear the cost of police and emergency services and much of the medical care provided. Employers lose in productivity and the expenses required to recruit and train replacements for victims of gun violence.  
 

Firearm owners should shoulder some responsibility for these costs. The risk of owning guns, particularly certain kinds of guns and firearms owned irresponsibly, should be reflected in the cost to gun owners.  
 

The General Assembly has not acted on sensible firearms legislation, but insurers can incentivize gun owners to implement safety measures, like using gun safes, installing trigger locks, and taking gun safety courses. We require motorists to carry automobile insurance, and the insurance industry appropriately encourages and rewards safe driver behavior.   
 

Please join me in this effort to make firearm owners shoulder a fair share of the economic costs of gun violence.