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Local Lawmakers Demand Action On Federal And State Gun Legislation

HARRISBURG, Pa. (KDKA) -- Local lawmakers are demanding action on gun legislation following two mass shootings.

Governor Tom Wolf and Senator Bob Casey were joined by CeaseFire PA and Moms Demand Action on Wednesday at the Capitol to call on federal and state lawmakers for legislation supporting universal background checks and extreme risk protection orders, often known as red flag Laws.

"Today is solemn one as across America, families are burying their loved ones," Gov. Wolf said in a release. "For those families, parents, children, siblings or spouses will not come home. And there is no undoing what has been done. We must tackle the use of gun violence. We must take guns out of the hands of people who will use them to kill.

"We must prevent people who want to kill from buying guns that are manufactured to allow them to kill at a more rapid pace. We must do everything we can to ensure people are not planning to kill before we sell them guns and we must restrict access to the weapons that are primarily used – time after time – for mass murder."

Gov. Wolf urged lawmakers in Pennsylvania and D.C. to pass red flag laws, and the state's general assembly to mandate universal background checks through the Pennsylvania State Police on all firearm purchases.

He also wants to see background check loopholes closed at the federal level.

"Far too often we come together to mourn the victims of gun violence and mass shootings in our communities, but enough is enough," said U.S. Senator Bob Casey said in a release. "We don't have to live like this. Gun violence is a uniquely American problem and the first step to reducing gun violence is to pass universal background checks, limit the size of magazines and ban military-style assault weapons—among other measures. We must also confront white nationalist ideology and rhetoric that has inspired some of the domestic terrorist attacks that have happened in Pennsylvania and throughout the country. It's time we hold accountable politicians who refuse to take action to reduce gun violence."

Earlier this week, President Donald Trump said he would also support a Red Flag Law.

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