I’ve had to get off the subway in Philadelphia because of a shooting.

In York County, Pastor Randall Zeiler regularly heard rapid gunfire from guns modified with machine-gun conversion devices while working at the Messiah Church of York.¹

In both cases, we urged our local officials to take action to address the specific needs of our communities.

But in Pennsylvania, we have a law on the books that makes it harder than it should be for mayors, sheriffs, city councils, and other local leaders to keep their constituents safe and alive.

Now, gun lobbyists and their allies are pushing legislation that would force taxpayers to pay for NRA-backed lawsuits challenging local gun laws when all local officials are trying to do is save lives.

We want to hear from you. How has local gun violence impacted you and the people you care about? Have you felt unsafe in your neighborhood? Is there a change you’d like to see that would make you feel safer? Please share your thoughts.

Already, the “preemption” law handcuffs local officials from passing most local gun safety laws. In other words, it gives a state legislator from Clearfield County more control over public safety laws in Philadelphia than the voters and city government of Philadelphia. This has been a problem for decades.²

But recently, we’ve worked with local officials to find a few gaps in the preemption law. We’ve banned ghost guns and machine gun converters in multiple communities.

Across the commonwealth, law enforcement officers, health care professionals, faith leaders, and Pennsylvania families are sick and tired of the gun violence epidemic. We have momentum and we’re WINNING at the local level.

It’s time for the State Assembly to stop standing in the way of lifesaving progress.

In community,

Adam Garber

Executive Director

CeaseFirePA

P.S. Please share your thoughts about how gun violence has impacted you and your local community. Your story will help us better understand what needs to happen next as we continue to work to make local change possible.

Sources: 

1. “York City Council passes ban on rapid-fire gun attachements,” WGAL, Sept. 3, 2025

2. “Why is it so hard for Philly to pass its own gun laws?,” The Philadelphia Inquirer, Nov. 1, 2022

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