No community is immune to the gun violence epidemic that is ravaging our commonwealth. Not even quiet Oakmont, which was recently shaken by a shooting at Fox’s Pizza Den (“Police: Fox’s Pizza employee shot during robbery in Oakmont,” March 6, TribLIVE). The shooting left the owner in critical condition and was part of a series of four armed robberies across Allegheny County (“Pittsburgh man charged with 4 robberies, including at Fox’s Pizza in Oakmont that left owner shot,” March 19, TribLIVE).
While the details of how this shooter obtained a weapon remain unclear, one thing is obvious: Pennsylvania’s weak gun laws create an environment where this violence is more common.
Study after study shows that stronger gun violence prevention laws make communities safer.
There is no shortage of ways to strengthen our commonwealth’s gun laws while still respecting responsible gun ownership. One simple and effective policy would be to create a legal duty to report lost or stolen firearms. House Bill 980 would help law enforcement hold straw purchasers and gun traffickers accountable for the illegal weapons they funnel into our communities.
Our state representative in Oakmont, Carrie Lewis DelRosso, not only has refused to support this legislation, she’s actively supported dangerous and deeply unpopular legislation to further weaken Pennsylvania’s gun laws.
It’s time for our elected officials to keep our communities safe by advancing this legislation and listening to constituents.
If you want to make your voice heard for sensible gun safety reform, join CeaseFirePA’s Advocacy Day at the State Capitol in Harrisburg on April 26.
Alicia Chatkin
Oakmont
The writer is president of the board of CeaseFirePA.