Friend, When the Governor or a Mayor declares a state of emergency, a concealed carry permit is required to carry a gun. This is a common sense rule when tensions could run high whether because of a pandemic or social justice protests. But the gun lobby wants to allow anyone to openly brandish a weapon during an emergency. HB 1747 would repeal the ban of open carry by people without a permit during a state of emergency. During times of crisis we need the public and law enforcement to peacefully de-escalate conflict. The Senate could vote as soon as next week. Tell them to oppose this dangerous bill. We’ve seen what happens when weapons are openly carried. In Pennsylvania, activists have been fired on. In Kenosha, someone decided to brandish an assault rifle and then use it to kill two. Simply put: openly carrying weapons during emergencies makes communities less safe, not more. And there’d be little the Governor or law enforcement could do to stop it if this bill passes. Email your State Senator now and ask him or her to VOTE NO on HB 1747. If this bill passes it will make law enforcement’s job impossible: There is no way for law enforcement to tell, when trying to de-escalate tense situations, who is allowed to have (and who is not to have) firearms. Just last week, Allegheny County Sheriff Bill Mullin told a Pittsburgh television station that “people openly carrying weapons in volatile situations can make the job of policing harder by giving officers one more person to worry about.” Sincerely, Adam Garber
CeaseFire Pennsylvania Executive Director | |
