Poll: Most in Pa. support new gun restrictions

Majority of voters in state favor more background checks, assault weapons ban

Just as Franklin & Marshall College released the results of a poll showing a majority of Pennsylvanian registered voters support forms of gun control, the state House Judiciary Committee is preparing to host three days of hearings on related proposed legislation.

In the March 2018 Franklin & Marshall College Poll, one of the findings focused on what the state’s registered voters thought about guns.

It found that 86 percent strongly favor enhancing the gun background check system. Another 61 percent support banning assault-style weapons and 59 percent agree that a person should be 21-years-old to purchase a gun here.

The poll also surveyed other subjects such as whether the state is headed in the right direction – 46 percent believed so — and thoughts on President Donald Trump (about 30 percent say he is doing an excellent or good job) and approval of U.S. Sen. Robert Casey, D-Pa., with 37 percent saying he is doing an excellent or good job.

The poll interviewed 423 Pennsylvania registered voters; 201 were Democrats, 163 Republicans and 58 independents. It was conducted from March 19-21.

The results were released just as state legislators prepare to host hearings over three days to consider legislation, including HB 1400, from April 9-11.

HB 1400 was introduced by state Rep. Jamie Santora, R-163 of Upper Darby, in May. It would establish universal background checks on all gun sales in the state. The current state law requires a check on purchases of handguns with a barrel less than 15 inches.

The Santora legislation would also provide a multi-day background check approval for use at lawful gun shows in Pennsylvania.

At the end of February, state Rep. Stephen Barrar, R-160 of Upper Chichester, an ardent self-

proclaimed Second Amendment supporter, became the last Delaware County lawmaker to co-sponsor the bill.

Barrar said his office received dozens of calls and emails after the Parkland, Fla., school massacre and he felt his action would be a catalyst to have a more civil discussion on the debate surrounding guns, rather than focus on emotion.

This past weekend, thousands gathered across the United States in the March for Our Lives to advocate for gun control. Here in Delaware County, hundreds converged on Rose Tree Park to show their support of toughening gun laws.

Members of Delaware County United for Sensible Gun Policy participated in the Washington part of that event, providing buses so area high school students could attend. The group is also preparing to go to Harrisburg during the hearings with three buses of participants ready to go as they rally on April 11.

Terry Rumsey, one of the co-facilitators of Delco United, said it’s time legislators listen to the majority of Pennsylvania registered voters rather than what he said is a minority if they want to keep their jobs.

In addition, the group’s event called “Demand the Ban!” was postponed until May because of the weather. At it, they plan to melt down an assault weapon to transform it into a tool, then walk it to the Philadelphia office of U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. Their intent is to gain support for a civilian ban on assault weapons.