Dems push for discussion of Pa. gun laws

The shooting deaths of 27 people in Newtown, Connecticut, are already spurring some Pennsylvania lawmakers to call for new gun safety legislation.

All but the House Republicans have confirmed the shootings are likely to prompt discussion of Pennsylvania’s gun policies.

Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery, says there are no cure-alls that could prevent the same kind of mass shooting in the commonwealth.

But he says he thinks of two bills right away when it comes to gun safety – one would limit a person’s gun purchases to one a month, to make it less profitable for people to buy guns legally and sell them illegally. Another bill would require people to report lost or stolen guns to police within two days of finding the gun missing.

Targeting illegal sales of firearms could keep guns out of the wrong hands.

“People with mental health problems, people with criminal records, people who are too young, people with bad intent,” he said.

This past fall, Gov. Tom Corbett signed a measure to raise the mandatory minimum prison sentence for people convicted of selling guns illegally.

One House Democrat says more work needs to be done when it comes to assault weapons.

Philadelphia’s Ron Waters says he’s proposed banning such guns four or five times, and he’ll introduce the measure again next year.He says he’s already receiving calls of support from colleagues — but so far, only from his side of the aisle.