Community Advocates Engage in Roundtable Discussion on Gun Violence in PA
Gettysburg, PA – Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) hosted a roundtable discussion with local gun reform advocates to discuss how gun violence has affected the Gettysburg community. Senator Casey was joined by board members of Gettysburg for Gun Sense, members of the Gettysburg College community and local advocates.
“While we grieve for the communities impacted by mass shootings, we must also recognize that gun violence is a public health epidemic impacting too many communities every single day in this country,” said Senator Casey. “Majority Leader McConnell should let the Senate debate and vote on a series of commonsense gun violence prevention bills immediately.”
“We call for common sense regulations like universal background checks that are proven to save lives and supported by over 90% of Americans. We also especially support a national ‘red flag’ (or ERPO) law, proven to prevent gun suicides, which account for two thirds of U.S. gun deaths. They are the form of gun violence in Adams County, taking 11 of our citizens last year,” said Judy Young, convener of Gettysburg for Gun Sense.
Senator Casey discussed the need to support common sense gun reform legislation, such as universal background checks, bans on assault weapons and safe storage laws. Casey is a cosponsor of the Disarm Hate Act, which would prevent individuals convicted of violent misdemeanor hate crimes from purchasing or possessing firearms. He is also a cosponsor of the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019, which would make it a crime to knowingly import, sell, manufacture, transfer or possess a semiautomatic assault weapon or large capacity ammunition feeding device. Gettysburg for Gun Sense distributes safe gun storage information, spreads awareness of our national gun violence epidemic and works for background checks. Starting in the fall of 2015, Gettysburg for Gun Sense has studied the gun violence epidemic in the U.S and public health solutions to the crisis.
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