Post by Woody Williams on Oct 18, 2008 10:51:38 GMT -5
New bill makes gun laws tougher in Pennsylvania
Saturday, October 18, 2008 12:37 AM EDT
The Associated Press
By BOB LENTZ Associated Press Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pennsylvania's gun laws got tougher Friday as Gov. Ed Rendell signed a bill increasing the mandatory sentence for anyone convicted of shooting a firearm at a police officer and for crimes committed with illegally purchased guns.
Rendell signed the wide-reaching bill at the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police lodge.
"It's a good day for Pennsylvania and a great day for law enforcement," said Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham, who pushed for the changes.
The bill raises the sentence for anyone who shoots a firearm at a police officer from 10 years to 20, with a maximum of 40 years.
It also aids prosecutors by increasing the statute of limitations from two years to five years for "straw purchase" cases, referring to federally prohibited transactions in which one person fills out legal forms and buys a gun for someone who cannot own firearms, such as convicted felons.
It also prevents mentally ill individuals from buying guns and raises the penalties for lying when filing federal paperwork to buy a gun and for filing a false report of a stolen gun.
Rendell signed the legislation less than 10 days after it unanimously passed in the state Legislature and less than a month after the death of a Philadelphia police officer who was shot with an illegally purchased gun.
City police have been shot at 188 times and struck 22 times since 2003, according to police union president John McNesby. In that same period, four of five city police officers killed in the line of duty were fatally struck by a firearm.
While the bill had support from legislators, city officials and the National Rifle Association, Rendell said it still had one flaw: It lacks a requirement to report a lost or stolen firearm.
"We need to make it a crime for failure to report a lost or stolen gun — no ifs, ands or buts," Rendell said. "We need to go further."
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter agreed. "Our work is not done. We know that we have not done everything we can do to make it safer out here, not only for police officers but for citizens of the city," he said.
Saturday, October 18, 2008 12:37 AM EDT
The Associated Press
By BOB LENTZ Associated Press Writer
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Pennsylvania's gun laws got tougher Friday as Gov. Ed Rendell signed a bill increasing the mandatory sentence for anyone convicted of shooting a firearm at a police officer and for crimes committed with illegally purchased guns.
Rendell signed the wide-reaching bill at the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police lodge.
"It's a good day for Pennsylvania and a great day for law enforcement," said Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham, who pushed for the changes.
The bill raises the sentence for anyone who shoots a firearm at a police officer from 10 years to 20, with a maximum of 40 years.
It also aids prosecutors by increasing the statute of limitations from two years to five years for "straw purchase" cases, referring to federally prohibited transactions in which one person fills out legal forms and buys a gun for someone who cannot own firearms, such as convicted felons.
It also prevents mentally ill individuals from buying guns and raises the penalties for lying when filing federal paperwork to buy a gun and for filing a false report of a stolen gun.
Rendell signed the legislation less than 10 days after it unanimously passed in the state Legislature and less than a month after the death of a Philadelphia police officer who was shot with an illegally purchased gun.
City police have been shot at 188 times and struck 22 times since 2003, according to police union president John McNesby. In that same period, four of five city police officers killed in the line of duty were fatally struck by a firearm.
While the bill had support from legislators, city officials and the National Rifle Association, Rendell said it still had one flaw: It lacks a requirement to report a lost or stolen firearm.
"We need to make it a crime for failure to report a lost or stolen gun — no ifs, ands or buts," Rendell said. "We need to go further."
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter agreed. "Our work is not done. We know that we have not done everything we can do to make it safer out here, not only for police officers but for citizens of the city," he said.