Allentown mayor supports new gun laws

[Gkgas]

Allentown mayor supports new gun laws
Opponents tell state officials that measures wouldn't curb violence.
By Paul Muschick Of The Morning Call
Allentown's mayor, police chief and a downtown resident told state lawmakers Thursday that increasing violent crime is affecting the city, but gun owners said new laws controlling the sale and handling of weapons won't help.

The House Judiciary and Appropriations committees heard testimony from eight people during a hearing at City Hall. It was one of about a dozen hearings being held statewide as legislators consider a series of anti-crime bills.



http://www.mcall.com/news/local/alle...,1177406.story
Proposals include limiting people to one handgun purchase per month; requiring owners of handguns to file police reports if the weapons are lost or stolen; and requiring police to trace illegal handguns recovered from juveniles and young adults.

Mayor Ed Pawlowski testified he is in ''full support'' of the legislation, as well as more money to hire police officers.

''In mid-size cities like Allentown, Reading, Bethlehem and Lancaster, gangs and drugs are as much a problem as they are in L.A., New York, Philadelphia and Chicago,'' he said. ''We have the same problems with less resources to address these issues.''

He provided the panel with statistics on gun crimes and said much of the violence has been the result of illegal guns.

John Brinson, representing the Lehigh Valley Firearms Coalition and its 50,000 members, said the proposed laws won't stop that.

The answer, he and other gun-rights advocates said, is to enforce existing laws and lock people up instead of going easy on them until they kill someone.

''Every single one of these bills targets innocent citizens,'' said Brinson, who is part of a coalition that represents 36 gun clubs in Lehigh, Northampton, Berks and Bucks counties. ''There's not one of these bills that targets criminals. Criminals don't obey the laws. They don't care.''

Gun owner Tom Turczyn of Fountain Hill, who practices law in Allentown, said he feels ''personally affronted'' by the proposed legislation.

Earl Supplee, chief deputy public defender for Lehigh County, testified he does not believe the laws would reduce the amount of firearms crimes. He said what needs to be changed is the attitude of youths and the entertainment media and popular culture that glorify violence.

''Based on my experience, I do not believe that it is possible to legislate morality, ethics or decency,'' Supplee said.

Center city resident Sharon Smith did not directly address the pending legislation, but said something must be done to stop the violence in her block, because it is driving out stable residents.

She told lawmakers about shootings, drug deals and vandalism, and how they have scared her 92-year-old neighbor into staying inside. She asked for more police and laws to end the violence.

''Why bother investing in a home in center city when your neighbors are drug dealers?'' Smith wrote in a presentation given to lawmakers.

Police Chief Roger MacLean said state police need more ballistics examiners to test guns to see if they have been used in crimes.

Assistant Chief Ron Manescu asked lawmakers to ease restrictions on police departments sharing information on individuals.

Attending Thursday's hearing were state Reps. Jennifer Mann, D-Lehigh; Craig Dally, R-Northampton; Joseph Brennan, D-Lehigh/Northampton; Douglas Reichley, R-Lehigh/Berks; Carl Mantz, R-Lehigh/Berks; and majority Judiciary Chairman Thomas Caltagirone, D-Berks.




It is good to see that the Pro-gun people were represented.