The attempt on Donald Trump’s life and the murder of Corey Comperatore in Butler County last month has brought the issue of firearm safety once again to the forefront of Pennsylvania politics. Within days of the incident, State Attorney General Michelle Henry called for a reinstatement of a federal assault weapon ban, that was allowed to expire by a Republican controlled Congress in 2004. Although a bill to ban assault weapons never made it to a floor vote, three other firearm bills passed recently in the Pennsylvania House. One bill would prohibit the sale, purchase, or manufacture of ghost guns, which are virtually untraceable. Another bill would outline the process for preventing an individual in crisis from possessing a firearm (an Extreme Risk Protection Order), and a final bill would expand background checks for people purchasing a firearm in venues other than gun stores.
Unfortunately, none of these bills has seen any action in the state senate. It is beyond comprehension that while Republican senators continue to couch the firearm crisis as a mental health crisis, that they refuse to move on the “Extreme Risk Protection Order” bill, also known as a “red-flag” law. It is also astonishing that the party that bills itself as one of “law-and-order” would allow untraceable guns to proliferate in the cities, towns, and boroughs across the state.
This video is an updated version of one made in 2022, that describes the problem that we face with firearms and what you can do about it as a voter and an activist in Pennsylvania.
And here are a few very specific actions that you can take to bring the types of firearm reforms we need in the Commonwealth:
Postcards
We have postcards targeting MAGA Republican Devlin Robinson, state senator from Allegheny County. His opponent is Nicole Ruscitto, a teacher from the district who is interested in properly funding public education in Pennsylvania, raising the minimum wage, and protecting women’s health.
Robinson, on the other hand, has signed letters in support of the Texas lawsuit against Pennsylvania’s 2020 election, and delaying certification of the electoral votes from the election. He also has an NRA score of 92%.
If you are interested in helping to elect Nicole by writing postcards, please reply to this email.
Canvass:
Saturday (August 10) there will be a canvass for Brian Munroe and Ashley Ehasz. Munroe had an extremely close race in 2022. Help him to keep this very important seat. Canvass starts at 11am in Warminster. Carpool leaves from High Point Café Allen Lane at 9am. You can register here.
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Phone Banking
Matt Cartwright is a Democratic Congressman in CD-8, in the northeastern part of the state. He has weathered some very close elections, and it is crucial that Democrats continue to hold this seat, to keep our state caucus majority in Congress. You don’t need to traipse up Scranton to help Matt. You can phone bank for him in the comfort of your own home, car, or coffee shop by signing up here.
Thanks,
Coleman
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