Amendments to Pennsylvania Gun Bill

Leping Yu Priya Tadaka Amiksha Shah

Pennsylvania
From 2001 through 2010, 5,061 people were murdered by guns in Pennsylvania. That number is as many as all U.S. combat deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.

Pennsylvania has not even passed legislation that aims to standardize the registration, licensing and assault weapon control systems.
The recent proposed legislation defeated by the Senate would have strengthened federal background checks and statutes against gun trafficking, among other provisions.

Researches
Reports from FBI in 2010, Pennsylvania had the 4th highest rate of murder caused by firearms and among the three states that have more restrictive gun laws .

Study conducted by E. Fleegler- a higher number of firearm laws in a state are associated with a lower rate of firearm fatalities in the state, overall and for suicides and homicides individually.
A poll for Gun Policy and Research at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health revealed that 89% of the public and 74 % of National Rifle Association members support comprehensive background checks on gun purchasers.

What will the legislation target

The legislation will be an amendment to the existing gun law in the State of Pennsylvania. The target of the new legislation is to establish a gun control system in the State of Pennsylvania where everyone who wants to purchase firearm must obtain a permit and that prior to obtaining the permit, a comprehensive criminal history background check is mandatory.

Talking Points on Legislation

Recent incidents as mentioned in the preceding section give us the complete picture on why we should ban the use of guns in the state of Pennsylvania. The deaths due to homicides is tremendously increasing in the states of United States. The number of gun owners in US is estimated to be approximately 80,000,000. The ownership itself gives a diligent right to kill people whether due to insecurity during the acts of self- defence or is it because of the violent acts committed by mentally ill individuals? If we look the incidents occurred, facts justify that these crimes were involved by children who were mentally ill or had disturbed patterns of life style.

Interesting Arguments
Talking points on Second amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Talking points on Gun Ownership by Comparison with other Countries Talking points on Background checks for all gun Sales Talking points on the usage of Assault Weapons, gun powders, firearms Talking points on the Gun Violence research Talking Points on making schools safer Talking Points on giving Mental health Services

Important aspects
Close the loophole in the background checks. Strengthen the background check system. Address unnecessary legal barriers that prevent states from reporting information about those prohibited from having guns. Make sure dangerous people are prohibited from having guns. Federal agencies should be made accountable for sharing reliable information from the background check system. Strengthen the control by putting ban on usage assault weapons. Make sure Children are given proper medical support. Proper insurance coverage should be availed for school students. Conduct research on gun violence on the causes and prevention of gun violence, including links between video games, media images, and violence. Require criminal background checks for all gun sales. Call on licensed dealers and private sellers to do their part through executive action.

An Amendment to Pennsylvania Gun Bill

Section1. Strengthen federal background checks and statutes against gun trafficking. Those who are not cleared but have passed the NICS three day waiting period should not be handed firearms. Section2. Mental health evaluation should be considered before confirming the sales of firearms. There should be extended background checks on sales over the internet and at the gun shows. Section3. There should be a law to restrict the number, types and size of ammunition purchased by an individual. The cause for each purchase should be specified and entered in a database.

An Amendment to Pennsylvania Gun Bill

Section4. Every firearm should be registered. Individuals wanting possession of gun should get a valid license. Transfers, lost or stolen should be reported by law. Section5. Minors and patients who are involuntarily admitted in hospital should be denied purchase of guns, even if under supervision. Section6. Require REAL ID compliant identification for all gun purchasers. Those in non-complying states, which are many, will no longer be permitted to buy firearms.

An Amendment to Pennsylvania Gun Bill

Section7. An improvement in record keeping system, which keeps records of the buyers as well as gun dealers. Section8 This act shall take effect on October 1, 2013