Lehigh Times

Gov. Tom Wolf recently joined CeaseFirePA at a rally in Philadelphia to demand that lawmakers work toward ending gun violence in the wake of the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 students and two teachers.

State and local government officials, gun violence survivors, and activists also attended the rally, Wolf's office said in a release. Wolf has been adamant about stopping gun violence and has historically been in alignment with CeaseFirePA's views. This rally was a chance to highlight the need for legislation and funding to curb the issue.

"Too many communities here and across the nation have known the terror of a mass shooting, and too many communities deal with gun violence every day that may not make nationwide headlines but still leave fear, grief, and heartbreak in their wake," Wolf said at the rally. "Gun violence has become entrenched in our nation, and the fact that our legislators at the state and national levels seem to be just fine with that is the greatest tragedy of all. I am heartbroken. I am angry. But I refuse to give up on calling on our lawmakers to enact common sense legislation that protects Pennsylvanians."

Earlier this year, Wolf vetoed House Bill 979, which discouraged the regulation of firearms, Wolf's office said. Prior to that, he vetoed Senate Bill 565, which would have eliminated the requirements for licensing and background checks needed to obtain concealed carry permits. It also would have overturned the law mandating an open carry permit in Philadelphia. Wolf has invested over $50 million in programs working toward preventing gun violence.

"I will continue to do everything I can to bring peace to our communities but what we really need is for our legislators to do their jobs, and pass some laws," Wolf said. "Doing nothing is absolutely unacceptable. Every day that they delay, lives are on the line. My message to leaders in Congress and Pennsylvania's General Assembly is simple: Do your jobs. Protect our kids."

CeaseFirePA and Wolf are urging lawmakers to pass a number of laws, Wolf's office said. Legislation includes requiring people to report guns that have been lost or stolen within 72 hours; requiring background checks and closing loopholes on gun purchases; requiring safe storage of guns; and creating red-flag laws protecting people who may pose a threat to themselves or others.

"Guns kill more Pennsylvania children than anything else because too many legislators have decided that has to be their fate," CeaseFirePA Executive Director Adam Garber said at the rally. "It's not a law of nature, it is the law of man. And that means we can change it but only if we refuse to accept any less from every elected official in Pennsylvania. At CeaseFirePA, we will not stop until everyone can live free from gun violence."