Rendell rallies gun control activists

By Tom Barnes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

HARRISBURG -- Gov. Ed Rendell joined dozens of state legislators, mayors from Eastern Pennsylvania, police officers and gun control groups today in trying to step up the pressure on the General Assembly to enact "sensible" laws to protect the police and public from growing handgun violence.

The governor acknowledged those on his side are going up against a strong and well-organized opponent in the National Rifle Association, which has opposed passage of three gun bills that Mr. Rendell calls "common sense," but which he can't get out of the House Judiciary Committee.

One bill would restrict handgun buyers to buying one gun per month, or 12 per year. Another bill would require handgun owners to report to police within 24 hours if the weapon is lost or stolen. Mr. Rendell says too many "straw purchasers" buy guns for criminals who can't buy them themselves, and then when a weapon is linked to a killing, the purchases merely says, "Oh, I lost that gun months ago."

The third bill would let municipalities enact their own gun laws, which could be tougher than state law. Currently that isn't possible, because only the Legislature can enact gun laws. The committee voted against the first and third bill and tabled the second bill recently.

Also at the rally were members of CeaseFirePA and Moms Against Violence, who vowed to put pressure on legislators to at least get the three bills out of the Judiciary Committee and force all House members to take a stand on them.

An emotional moment came when the Hacke family of West Miffllin spoke. They lost an infant son to random gun violence in Homestead on the night of Jan. 11, 1997.

Mary Beth Hacke, who with her husband Tom, and small sons, Matthew and Ryan, were stopped at a red light after having just pulled out of a gasoline station. Suddenly some youths began firing at the gasoline station and a bullet struck and killed Ryan, then 14 months old. Matthew was sitting near Ryan in the back seat but wasn't hurt. Today, the Hackes' three children, Matthew, Tyler and Sarah, held a framed photograph of Ryan at the news conference.

"Ryan, who we miss every waking and sleeping second, was violently taken from us by a criminal who never should have been able to get his hands on a handgun, but who did," said Mrs. Hacke.

Many legislators, however, represent rural areas where hunting and target shooting is popular, and they don't see any reason for more laws which, they claim, would restrict their constituents' rights under the Second Amendment. They favor tough prison sentences for suspects convicted of use firearms during crimes.

Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill, said more work needs to be done to persuade legislators of the importance of the three gun control bills. Mr. Rendell insisted he isn't trying to take guns away from, or hurt the rights of, lawful and responsible gun owners and sportsmen.