Tour to improve gun sale background checks hits Philly

A nationwide campaign for improving the firearms purchase background check system made a stop in Philadelphia. 

The counter on the mobile billboard tallied another gun death since the Tuscon shooting during the event outside City Hall.  Among those in attendance was District Attorney Seth Williams who says there needs to be stricter enforcement of gun laws to stop illicit gun purchases.

“One that we get all people who should be prohibited from buying guns into the background check system and secondly close the loopholes in the background check system by requiring a background check for every gun sale,” said Williams.

For example, Pennsylvania has yet to submit names to a federal database of  people who for reason of mental illness are barred from buying a gun in the commonwealth.

Jeweler Mark Chilutti of Northeast Philadelphia is in a wheelchair after being shot during a robbery.  “The time is now to really jump on board and make a difference,” he said.

The campaign wants to make sure all gun sellers, not just federally licensed dealers, have to perform those checks.  The National Rifle Association opposes it because it says that would affect gun collectors who buy and sell weapons but aren’t making their living through those transactions.