Shame on Pa. Lawmakers – Death of Five Year Old Argues For Change in Gun Laws
It was really an exciting Sunday in Philadelphia. Even the early autumn rain couldn’t dampen the spirit of sports fans, who watched the victorious Eagles and Phlllies. The annual Puerto Rican parade was a success, as usual. Just another Sunday in Philadelphia.
Not quite.
Shortly after 11 a.m., a mother was driving her children near 28th and Huntingdon in the Strawberry Mansion section of the city. The mother, Alishia Crowley, would later tell police that she heard a volley of gunfire, but kept on driving. A few blocks later she realized that her five year old daughter, riding in the back seat, was seriously wounded. She died within the hour.
Neighbors say gunshots had been fired for the last several days in the neighborhood. Whether the shooters were looking for someone else or just firing at random are questions that are still not answered. But the episode has put the spotlight again on the fact that Philadelphia is now number one in the nation , among the ten largest cities, in crimes of violence.
The quiet argument in this community for a long time is that most of the fatal victims of crime are people who know each other, partners in crime, or drug dealers. That argument is not valid.
Mrs. Crowley’s daughter is not the first child whose life was snuffed out in the crossfire.
As I thought about this latest case of Philadelphia death, I thought again about the failure of the Pa. Legislature to pass special gun laws for Philadelphia, laws that would make it harder to get weapons and maybe ease the violence. The special gun legislation has been opposed by suburban and rural legislators for fear of incensing voters who believe in the Constititional right to bear arms. Tomorrow the Pa. House begins a special session on crime fighting, and no doubt, special gun curbs for Philadelphia will come up again.
I don’t blame these politicians in central and western Pennsylvania for a little girl’s death. There is plenty of blame to go around, including a community of local politicians who just don’t prioritize the need for people’s safety.
But the death should be viewed by these lawmakers as another wake up call. Until someone can clarify the difference between a person’s right to self defense and a person’s right to hunt with a child’s right to live without fear of death, then these legislators will be viewed with shame.
The special session on crime also comes as a march against crime , organized by concerned parents, is descending on Harrisburg.
A bill to scrutinize gun sales in Philadelphia will not stop people from hunting wild game in the state. Failure to pass this legislation will once again expose these rural legislators for what they are – a bunch of failed political turkeys.
Comments(9)
The only failed turkey is the agrument for gun control.The problem is with your society not the weapons within that society.It’s a moral problem.People kill people.
Thanks for writing. You are right in your point, but there is a major difference in many areas of the country when it is harder to buy guns.
The 2nd amendment should not be jeopardized by legislative efforts to keep guns out of the hands of individuals prone to violence in the first place.
Larry
I do not believe that it is acceptable to give up the right to defend yourself.We need to stop the gang violence in this city.These people are not running out in the streets and firing guns for no reason.The gun problem is being caused by people with illegeal guns and they have an agenda.A criminal is not going to turn in his or her gun because you pass a law.Stop the gangs and you will decrease the violence.
After tragedies like this, I understand why people see gun control can help stop the violence. However, I disagree. If a drug dealer wants a gun, they will not decide not to purchase a gun illegally just because it’s against the law. Gun uncontrol I think could discourage people who want to turn to violence. After handguns were outlawed in Washington DC, and it was dubbed the “murder captial” of the United States in the early 90s. To apply that to our lives, a man would not dare attempt to rape a woman knowing that there may be a chance that she may have a gun in her purse. Maybe drug dealers won’t be likely to start shoot-outs knowing the other person or a nearby resident may be armed. Just something to think about for anyone who believes gun control will decrease crime.
Hmmm! Special gun legislation? Let’s do that. Since gun manufactures in a foreign lands would not see this as an opportunity to supply illegal guns to the united states; and of course there would be no way to bring this guns into the United States (we have proven that by stopping the drug influx) I think special drug, excuse me gun legislation will do the trick.
If brains were trains.
Charles: I like your writing. But I think you don’t grasp the crisis. Phila. is in trouble. Less guns in Philadelphia = less murder.
The drug war. I could spend days on that debacle.
I think Charles doese grasp the crisis but I am not sure that you do.Less guns doese not equal less murder.Less murderers equals less murder.Most people who own firearms do not have a desire to kill people.But gang members who want to promote fear use illegial guns to do this.The city is in trouble because of violent thugs that have a 1920′s gangster mentality.
J—
You have to be there to understand. There’s a difference between protecting yourself and using a weapon to hurt others.
Thanks
Larry
q103bgi88m5m0i5h