Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Group urges lawmakers to back gun bill
HARRISBURG » State Sen. Tom Killion, R-9, led a Mom’s Demand Action rally, Monday, at the rotunda at the state Capitol, to urge state House members to pass House Bill 2060.
HB 2060 would require relinquishment of firearms within 24 hours of when a protection from abuse order is issued.
Killion is the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 501, which passed in the Senate 50-0, on March 21. The House was poised to consider a vote Monday afternoon.
“We must get guns out the hands of abusers,” Killion said, Monday. “Victims of domestic violence are living in fear.
“The longer we wait, the more gun violence will endanger women, children and law enforcement. We need to finally get this bill to Governor Wolf and save lives. Waiting any longer is unconscionable.”
The House on Monday was considering passing similar legislation to Killion’s bill, HB 2060, which is sponsored by state Rep. Marguerite Quinn, R-143, of Bucks County.
If HB 2060 passes the House, the Senate will have this bill assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration. The House currently has Killion’s bill sitting in the House Judiciary Committee.
In June of this year, police allege Charles Williams shot his wife, Stephanie Williams at their 302 North Five Points Road home, leaving behind two young twin children. At the time,
Stephanie Williams was in the process of obtaining a protection from abuse order against her husband. Before the murder, police had visited the house numerous times on domestic violence calls. Williams kept guns in the house.
“If police are aware of a dangerous and volatile situation with guns involved, why can’t the guns be removed by law for 30 days or until things settle down,” said Ryan Smith, a friend of the Williams family. “But this is a gun control issue, and it is a hot topic in today’s society.”
Tom Buglio, West Chester gun violence prevention activist, has fought for common sense gun laws.
“For the many families affected by domestic violence, there needs to be a way to promptly keep guns out of the hands of anyone who has a protection from abuse order against them,” Buglio said. “The Senate passed a bill that would take the guns and gun rights out of the hands
of abusers by the authorities within 24 hours, instead of the 60-day window that exists today.
“It is a common sense bill that has nothing to do with 2nd Amendment rights, but everything to do with protecting the vulnerable victims of abuse.”
Ann Colby-Cummings is chairperson of the 700-member Gun Sense Chester County. Gun Sense works to establish a common ground between gun owners and non-gun owners.
“We would be very pleased to see this bill passed and it would be a significant step toward reducing the potential for gun violence in domestic violence situations,” ColbyCummings said.
According to the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 2017 saw the highest number of domestic violence homicides in a decade, according to a release issued by Killion. Last year, 117 domestic violence deaths occurred in the state, with 78 by guns.