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WHEREAS, federal statistics show that most handguns used in crimes in Pennsylvania come from within the state, and that Pennsylvania - which Governor Rendell has called a "haven for straw purchasers" - has become a source for illegal handguns in nearby states; and,
WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities, led by a Task Force of Pennsylvania mayors concerned about rising gun violence in their communities, is in favor of a lost or stolen firearm reporting law; and,
WHEREAS, according to the Uniform Crime Report, robberies with handguns were up 12 percent in Allegheny County between 2005 and 2006, and homicides by firearm were up 36 percent in the state between 2000 and 2006; and,
WHEREAS, law enforcement officials and agencies, across Pennsylvania and the United States, have come out in favor of a mandatory lost or stolen handgun reporting law including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association and the Pennsylvania District Attorney's Association; and,
WHEREAS, law enforcement officials view a lost or stolen reporting requirement as an important tool to create more accountability and enable investigators to track illegal handguns used in crimes back to their original owner; and,
WHEREAS, police officials believe lost or stolen reporting requirements will help crack down on illegal straw purchases of handguns by individuals without a criminal background who buy handguns in bulk and then sell them to persons with criminal records; and
WHEREAS, seven states have already passed legislation to stem the rising tide of gun violence by preventing straw purchasers from being able to buy handguns in bulk by making it mandatory for handgun owners to report their weapons lost or stolen to their local police department; and,
WHEREAS, eight other municipalities across Pennsylvania, including the Cities of Allentown, Harrisburg, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Pottsville, Reading, Wil...
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