Philly Leader

Following the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas that killed 19 students and two teachers, Gov. Tom Wolf recently attended a rally in Philadelphia where he called for legislators to take action to end gun violence.

According to a May 27 release, Wolf was joined by members of CeaseFirePA, government officials, activists and gun violence survivors. Wolf has stood behind CeaseFire PA’s effort to end gun violence and the recent mass shootings have highlighted the need for legislation and funding to stop gun violence across the country, and that includes Pennsylvania.

“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,” Gov Wolf said. “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.”

CeaseFire PA has called for the following legislators to pass the following laws that will help curb gun violence: To require reporting for lost and stolen guns within 72 hours; to close loopholes and require background checks to buy a gun; to require safe storage of firearms, and to create red flag laws to protect people who may be in danger to themselves or other people. 

“Guns kill more Pennsylvania children than anything else because too many legislators have decided that has to be their fate. 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,” said CeaseFirePA Executive Director Adam Garber. “At CeaseFirePA, we will not stop until everyone can live free from gun violence.”

Throughout Wolf’s administration, he has provided funding for programs aimed at stopping gun violence, vetoed bills he deemed dangerous and spoken out about the need for work to be done to stop the issue.

In January 2022 Wolf vetoed House Bill 979, which discouraged the regulation of firearms. In December 2021 he also vetoed Senate Bill 565, which would have removed licensing and background checks for concealed carry permits, while also overturning the city of Philadelphia’s permit for open carry law. Wolf has invested more than $50 million in gun violence prevention programs since he entered office.

“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,” Gov. 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.”