Harrisburg, PA, Oct. 3, 2018 — CeaseFirePA is pleased that the PA Senate today passed HB 2060 by a vote of by 43-5. We thank the Senate for taking this bill up after passing its own version of the bill earlier this year, ensuring that it would become law. This bill takes important steps to disarm domestic abusers and make Pennsylvania families safer. The bill now heads to Governor Wolf, who has been calling for its passage and has promised to sign it. CeaseFirePA has been proud to stand with the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America and work with constituents across the Commonwealth to pass this critical legislation.
Passing this bill means Pennsylvania finally joins the growing list of states that have taken action to protect those living here from people who should not have guns. Almost everyone agrees that convicted domestic abusers and those subject to final adjudicated protection from abuse orders should not have guns. Guns and domestic violence are a lethal combination. Now, we are closing the gap that enabled these prohibited purchasers to keep the guns they already had. This gap endangered families, law enforcement, and the public. Despite last ditch efforts by gun extremists who stand up for convicted abusers and against families, the PA legislature did the right thing.
Shira Goodman, Executive Director of CeaseFirePA, said: “CeaseFirePA fought hard to pass this legislation, and thanks the thousands of Pennsylvanians who called, wrote or visited their legislators to demand they disarm abusers. This is commonsense legislation, but too often we have seen commonsense defeated by extremism and gun lobby lies. Today marks a victory for safety.”
