Legislators, stand up for citizens instead of the gun lobby

Recently, an alleged domestic abuser walked into a San Bernardino classroom and opened fire — killing his wife and one of her students, an 8-year-old boy.

Pennsylvania is no exception to this kind of violence. Research from the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence shows that 102 people were killed last year in domestic violence incidents and that 56 percent of the victims were shot. And as happened in San Bernardino, women and children are all too often in a shooter’s crosshairs. When it comes to gun violence against women, the U.S. is the most dangerous country in the developed world.

In the wake of this tragedy in California, our lawmakers here in Pennsylvania have the chance to pass a lifesaving bill, Senate Bill 501, to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. Senate Bill 501 will protect not only the victims of domestic violence but also the law enforcement officers who respond to domestic violence calls.

It is time our elected leaders take a strong stand for public safety, and acknowledge that domestic violence is a gun violence problem. Instead of the gun lobby, state legislators should stand up for Pennsylvanians. And these legislators need to know we care.

Please send an email or make a call to your state legislators urging them to prioritize passing Senate Bill 501, and that we’re not going anywhere until they step up and pass this commonsense gun law.

There’s excuse for inaction on this lifesaving legislation. EMILY M. HETZEL Squirrel Hill