Getting the ball rolling
Gov. Wolf takes a measured step forward on guns
In the wake of two mass shootings in Philadelphia that left 11 people wounded, including six police officers, Gov. Tom Wolf took measured action toward stemming the tide of gun violence that has swept the commonwealth and the rest of the country.
An executive order signed Aug. 16 requires state agencies to collect more data about gun violence, increases the monitoring of hate groups and creates a council of criminal justice experts and lawmakers who will craft policy recommendations.
The governor wisely avoided overreach — something Mayor Bill Peduto could take a cue from — opting for a set of smart, yet restrained decisions that will get the ball rolling on this critical and incendiary issue. It is a first step. A cautious step. But it is one that recognizes the difficult waters that must be navigated if reasonable gun control measures are to be embraced by a bipartisan majority. And that must happen at the state and federal levels of government.
The scourge of gun violence has become such an omnipresent threat that many Americans fear they will become a victim in what we acknowledge to be the next inevitable attack. In a Reuters/ Ipsos poll taken earlier this month, 59% of respondents identified random acts of violence such as mass shootings as the
biggest safety threat to average Americans.
“Too many live every day in fear of being shot on the sidewalk, in their neighborhood, at a grocery store, at school or at a concert,” said Mr. Wolf during the signing ceremony at the Capitol in Harrisburg.
Alleviating this fear is a mighty challenge, one that will be solved through political and citizen collaboration as the debate continues over the prospect of expanded background checks and red flag laws.
On one thing everyone must agree: Something must be done. Gov. Wolf has kick- started some real work.