EDITOR: As a friend of mine stated, “PA State Representative Craig Williams has a record of voting for strong punishment and penalties for gun crimes. But he’s loose on regulation. Taking that kind of a stand to me is like saying, “Let’s invest in antivenom drugs” while giving reptile breeders incentives to hatch more venomous snakes.” As federal prosecutor with the Department of Justice he prosecuted crimes including illegal gun possession. Ironically he also supports the No Permit Required for Concealed Carry Act (SB 565) and voted against bringing up the Assault Weapons Ban for a vote (HB770 SUSP Rules).
Polls show that a solid majority of Pennsylvania voters want more gun regulation. It’s common sense. Statistics have been stable from the 1970’s regarding the ownership of firearms for protection. If that is Rep Williams’ reason for supporting his current votes. Statistics tell us that in the majority of cases where a firearm is owned and used, tragedy is the result, not protection. Protection is the exception. That’s why a successful protective act makes the news – it’s a relatively rare occurrence. The majority of the time, the perpetrator gets the upper hand and a violent act ends in a shooting death or injury or guns in a home are used in anger against family and friends, tragedy is the result of a child’s curiosity, or a gun goes off in an accidental shooting. Assault weapons are the weapons used in mass shootings because the shooter can get off so many more rounds in a short period of time and shoot a much larger number of people.
And I would be remiss if I did not mention that guns are big business. Manufacturers and sellers make huge profits. Supporting them through loose gun regulation supports money interests and power.
The House is going to be returning for session in September. Rep Williams has one last chance this session to do something good and save lives – my life, the lives of my loved ones, and the lives of the people in our communities. He could sponsor these common agenda bills: eliminating the gun show loophole (HB 235), safe storage (HB 237), providing for report of theft or loss of a firearm (HB 980), and related to extreme risk protection orders, providing for persons to not possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms, abandon firearms, weapons or ammunition (HB 1903).
I and the majority of Pennsylvania voters are watching to see how Representative Williams votes on these important bills.
Sincerely,
Common Sense in DelCo
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