| | | |  | Victory Shortly after the horrific shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas in early August, CeaseFirePA received calls from our partners Guns Down and March for Our Lives. Both organizations wanted to shine a light on the fact that Walmarts across the Country continued to sell firearms and ammunition in the wake of a tragedy that happened in their store. The decision was made to hold protests outside Walmarts asking them to stop selling firearms and submit formal requests to the store managers requesting the same. March for Our Lives, CeaseFirePA, and Orange Wave held protests outside Walmarts in Exton, PA on August 10th and Wyncote, PA on August 22nd. Walmart heard our voices and acknowledged the leadership role they could play in the gun violence prevention movement. On September 3rd, 2019 Walmart announced that they would no longer carry handgun ammunition at any of their stores. In addition, they banned all customers from openly carrying firearms in their stores. Reflecting their commitment to being a part of the solution, Kroger Supermarkets, Walgreens, CVS, and several other large companies shortly followed suit and requested customers do not openly carry firearms in their stores. Don't underestimate the impact of standing up and speaking out. | | | | |  | Universal Background Checks The shooter in Odessa failed a background check when he tried to buy a gun from a licensed dealer several years ago. So instead, he bought a gun in a private sale, which does not require a background check under Texas law--and the same transaction would not require a background check under PA law. This weekend, he used that gun to kill 7 people and injure 21 others. If you’re thinking that it doesn’t make sense to allow gun sales without background checks, we’re with you. And we’ve been working to close those private sale loopholes at the state and federal levels for years. It’s not rocket science. If you want to buy a gun, you should have to pass a background check. The bills we’re supporting, HB 673 in PA and S 42 (the Senate version of the bill that passed the U.S. House earlier this year), close those loopholes without adding language that weakens other gun laws. Background checks work. Every gun, every sale. It shouldn’t matter where you buy it, from whom you buy it, or what kind of gun it is. We need real fixes, and we need President Trump, Leader McConnell and Senator Toomey to support those fixes. Let them know, using the link below: | | | | | | | | Policy Committee Hearing On September 3, Rep. Tim Briggs, Minority Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, held a Democratic Policy Committee hearing on gun violence. In addition to a law enforcement panel with DA Kevin Steele, Montco Sheriff Sean Kilkenny, and Upper Merion Police Chief Thomas Nolan, there was a panel of doctors, including pediatrician Dr. Steve Shapiro, ER pediatrician Dr. Joel Fein, Trauma Surgeon Dr. Zoe Maher, and psychiatrist Dr. Jack Rozel . Their testimony about gun violence and gun violence prevention and the work they do with their patients was compelling. The assembled legislators were riveted as they spoke about the injuries they see and treat. We were there as well, along with advocates from PCCY and NOVA. | | | | Rep. Dean Town Hall CeaseFirePA joined Congresswoman Madeline Dean and State Representative Matt Bradford in Norristown for a town hall on gun violence prevention. What was supposed to be a meaningful community discussion with Berks and Montgomery county residents became heated, as many gun rights activists loudly tried to debate points made by the panelists and other attendees. Norristown Chief of Police Mark Talbot stood with us and explained the need to address gun violence holistically and systemically. There were important conversations about expanding background checks and implementing Extreme Risk Protection Order processes. CeaseFirePA is committed to having an open and respectful dialogue with everyone on how we can save lives and prevent gun violence and we are grateful to Congresswoman Dean and her staff who ensured that all perspectives were heard. | | | | Join CeaseFirePA at a Town Hall near You As the summer recess for Congress and the PA General Assembly come to a close, we are holding several townhall conversations across the Commonwealth. We hope you will join us and get prepared for the upcoming legislative sessions and your role in helping to ensure commonsense gun policies are on the agenda. Philadelphia March For Our Lives Gun Violence Town Hall Saturday, 9/7 10am Parkway Central Library 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA 19103 State College Suicide Town Hall Wednesday 9/11 6:30pm State College Municipal Building 243 S Allen St. State College PA 16801 Mechanicsburg Suicide Town Hall with March For Our Lives Thursday 9/12 6:30pm American Legion Post 109 224 W Main St. Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Trucksville Suicide Town Hall Thursday 9/12 7pm The Checkerboard Inn 385 Caverton Road, Trucksville, PA 18708 | | | | | | | | | |
