Gun ownership demands responsibility

Last week a Colonial School District guard discovered a gun in the car of a substitute teacher. Guns do not belong where our children learn, and this educator had no right to bring the weapon to school grounds. Leaving a gun unlocked in a car is a recipe for disaster as could lead to it being stolen and used in the commission of a crime.

We can balance an individual’s right to bear arms with respect for public safety, which is why Pennsylvania must prioritize responsible gun ownership. Thankfully no one was hurt in this instance, but the reality is this situation could have easily ended in tragedy. Between 2006 and 2016, the number of guns being stolen from individuals across the U.S. increased by 60%.

If individuals want to own a firearm, they must be responsible and learn how to use and store it safely. In Pennsylvania, there are neither laws requiring the safe storage of firearms nor laws requiring first-time gun owners to participate in a firearm safety training course. These loopholes put communities constantly at risk.

We must ensure the safety of our children by enacting laws that require responsibility from gun owners. Please tell your state lawmakers to support H.B 237 (Warren), which would require guns to be stored properly when not in use, and H.B. 872 (Kinsey) which would require training for firsttime gun owners.

Pennsylvania can take a stand against gun violence and it starts with making sure gun owners are responsible.