The Pennsylvania Progressive

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Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Will Regola Support Gun Safety Laws Now?

State Senator Bob Regola (R- Westmoreland) is a member of the National Rifle Association. The NRA has steadfastly fought common sense gun safety laws in Pennsylvania. It doesn't seem to matter that the rate of violence on Philadelphia streets is out of control. Monica Yant Kinney just had a column in the Inquirer reflecting on the eight weeks it took her to get approval in New Jersey to purchase a hand gun. It took her colleague less than a day to buy one in PA. Since then 70 people were killed by gun violence in the city. The following day three more victims were added to the tally.

None of this has moved any of the rabid gun supporters to action in Harrisburg however. Now a 14 year old boy apparently used Sen. Regola's unlocked handgun to commit suicide. The young man was caring for the Republican's pets and gained access to the pistol. One must wonder if a trigger lock may have prevented this tragedy. Perhaps a law requiring guns be kept in secured (locked) places might also have allayed this event. We'll never know because Mr. Regola serves in Harrisburg and supports the organization which prevents common sense gun safety laws from being enacted.

People like Regola should be sued for allowing things like this to happen. Tragedies such as this are too preventable and legislators like Regola are to blame.

Update: Regola's 9mm gun was not locked in a secure place and did NOT have a trigger lock. A second gun was also found unsecure during a police search.