Auditor General DePasquale Says Washington, DC Inaction Prompts Effort to Reduce Firearm Injuries, Deaths; Improve Gun Safety
Plans to seek ideas from all sides of gun debate, focus on non-legislative solutions
Auditor General DePasquale Says Washington, DC Inaction Prompts Effort to Reduce Firearm Injuries, Deaths; Improve Gun Safety
Plans to seek ideas from all sides of gun debate, focus on non-legislative solutions
HARRISBURG (Nov. 15, 2017) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced he plans to seek ideas from all sides of the gun debate to find commonsense gun safety measures that will reduce firearm injuries and deaths without legislative action.
“Each year there are hundreds of firearm-related deaths in Pennsylvania, including homicides, suicides and accidental discharges,” DePasquale said. “While firearms are an emotional issue no matter where you stand, even one death is too many.”
To prepare a special report on the topic, DePasquale said he plans to meet with a wide spectrum of organizations with a variety of perspectives, including sporting groups, gun safety activists, law enforcement, medical and mental health professionals, firearm dealers, and domestic violence prevention advocates, among others.
“Washington, D.C. is an unmitigated train wreck, so it is abundantly clear that if we seek to curb senseless gun deaths and injuries, we must do so at the state level,” DePasquale said. “As a society, we must be able to find some common ground on the firearm issue to reduce gun violence while protecting the right to own firearms. It is the morally responsible thing to do.”
DePasquale said his effort will focus on the enforcement of firearm laws and regulations already on the books in Pennsylvania.
“I am entering into this issue with an open mind and a willingness to listen to all sides of the gun debate,” DePasquale said. “I am hopeful that open and honest discussions with all parties will enable us to fashion commonsense gun safety measures to reduce injuries and deaths from firearms.
“Clearly there is no one-size-fits all solution to gun violence,” he said. “Nevertheless, we cannot continue to sit idly by while so many Pennsylvanians are killed or injured by firearms.”
DePasquale anticipates issuing a special report on gun safety by fall 2018.
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