Here is what CeaseFire PA had to say just yesterday.


On June 5th, CeasefirePA rallied along side Mayors Against Illegal Guns and Mothers in Charge, as well as other gun violence prevention groups, individual activists, and PA State House representatives and PA State Senators. The rally, hosted in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg, focused on support for three bills in particular: House Bills 1010, 1479, and 1515.

The proposed bills (in order) would expand background checks to include long guns and assault rifles; create a statewide requirement to report lost or stolen guns; and ban large-capacity ammunition magazines. "If we're going to require [background checks] for handguns, why not assault rifles? Why not for shotguns?" said Representative Steve Santarseiro (D-31) on house bill 1010, which he sponsored and already has support from 50 house members.

House Bill 1479 does not affect those who legally purchased large capacity ammunition magazines, and instead only imposes penalties for those who possess or buy more than 15 rounds of ammunition in a magazine at a time.

Proposed by Representative Madeleine Dean (D-153), House Bill 1515 would crack down on illegal gun trafficking by requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms within 72 hours of knowledge. "This problem is multi-layer," said Dean, "It affects every one of us." As Executive Director of CeasefirePA said of the rally, "We're back today to ask the legislature why you haven't done anything." CeaseFirePA urged the crowd to keep coming back and make it clear that legislators need to show that they are standing up for Pennsylvanians.