Friend, On the heels of a violent insurrection at the US Capitol, there is concern extreme activists will plan more disruption and violent actions at government buildings. They may even be coming to our state capital in Harrisburg, Philadelphia, or even your town or city. I was the Mayor of Lancaster for over a decade. We debated issues from parking to the budget to zoning vociferously. Our democracy depended on it. But I also worried that someone would try to force the issue by bringing a gun to the government building. The January 6th armed insurrection attempt, and continued reports that similar protests are planned across the country including in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, make this danger even more clear.¹ But local officials have a problem: state legislators have barred them from prohibiting firearms in local government buildings like City Hall. That’s why I’m working with CeaseFirePA to allow local leaders to protect our communities from violent, armed attacks on our democracy and government. Tell your state legislators: Secure our democracy. Firearms have no place in local government buildings or meetings. Even before this violence, we’ve seen what can happen when firearms are taken to a local government meeting. In 2013, a Ross Township man who had a long-running feud with township officials killed three at the Ross Township Municipal Building and injured three others. Local control around preventing firearms in public parks and municipal buildings should be common sense. I’d like to see Pennsylvania do more to address gun violence across the Commonwealth, and not only when it comes to securing our democracy. But until then, the least they can do is not bar your local elected officials from leading. I know how heated arguments and debates about politics can be. Good democracy thrives on strong discussion, but potential violence has no place in the conversation and neither do firearms. Send a message to you legislators right now and ask them to give your local government the power to make you safer. Sincerely, Mayor Rick Gray
CeaseFire Pennsylvania Treasurer ¹Sheean, Andy, “Local Law Enforcement Prepares For Possible Armed Protest Ahead Of Inauguration Day” CBS Pittsburgh. January 11, 2021 | 
