City of Pittsburgh - File #: 2012-0113

• File #: 2012-0113
• Version: 1
• Type: Will of Council
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 2/14/2012
• In control: City Council
• Final action: 2/14/2012
• Enactment date: 2/14/2012
• Enactment #: 19
• Title: NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does herby oppose House Bill 1523 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh, does hereby call upon the Allegheny County delegation of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and Pennsylvania Senate, as well as Governor Corbett to join us in opposition to this unprecedented, politically motivated bill; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh urges that General Assembly and Governor Corbett to reconsider adopting a statewide lost or stolen handgun reporting requirement, establishing a uniform system of accountability for missing firearms across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• Sponsors: Bruce A. Kraus, Theresa Kail-Smith, Natalia Rudiak, William Peduto, Corey O'Connor, R. Daniel Lavelle, Darlene M. Harris, Patrick Dowd, Reverend Ricky V. Burgess
• Indexes: PROCLAMATION - MR. KRAUS

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
2/14/2012	1	City Council	Adopted	Pass

Body
WHEREAS the city of Pittsburgh is struggling to reduce the rising tide of gun violence in our community; and

WHEREAS despite overwhelming evidence that the vast majority of gun crimes are committed by "prohibited purchasers" using illegal guns obtained through loss, theft, straw purchases, or trafficking, the State Legislature of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has refused to take any action to address illegal gun trafficking, and in 2008 rejected a proposal to enact a statewide lost or stolen handgun reporting requirement; and

WHEREAS in order to reduce the supply of illegal guns resulting from theft, loss, or illegal transfers, in 2009 Pittsburgh City Council adopted a lost or stolen handgun reporting ordinance, requiring that missing firearms be reported to law enforcement upon discovery their absence; and

WHEREAS Pittsburgh is one of 48 communities that have taken action in favor a lost or stolen handgun reporting requirement, including 30 that have adopted the reform as local law; and

WHEREAS Pennsylvania courts have allowed the local lost or stolen handgun reporting laws set by the cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia to remain on the books six times, including Allegheny and Philadelphia Courts of Common Pleas, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court; and

WHEREAS the Pennsylvania State Legislature is considering HB 1523, unprecedented legislation created by the gun lobby to threaten financial penalties for cities and towns in Pennsylvania that have taken proactive steps to crack down on criminals who illegally use and traffic firearms, terrorizing our communities; and

WHEREAS HB 1523 will encourage frivolous, costly lawsuits against the City of Pittsburgh by extreme gun advocacy groups and gun owners, even if no evidence is presented indicating that their rights have been infringed upon; and

WHEREAS if the City of Pittsburgh successfully defends itself against such lawsuits, no compensation is provid...