YEAH, THESE GROUPS HAVE LONG ADVOCATED FOR ADVANCING LEGISLATION ON FOUR MAJOR FRONTS WHEN IT COMES TO GUN CONTROL. THOSE ISSUES ARE UNIVERSAL BACKGROUND CHECKS, RED FLAG LAWS OR EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS BANNING HIGH CAPACITY MAGAZINES AND BANNING MILITARY STYLE WEAPONS. NOW, TONIGHT, SPEAKERS DID TOUCH ON THOSE ISSUES, AND THEY ALSO READ ALOUD THE NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN SHOT AND KILLED IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. SO FAR THIS YEAR. JULIUS LAMAR ROBINSON, 42, PENN HILLS CHARLES RICHARD WILLIAM. DURKAC 34. PITTSBURGH. REUBEN KELLY. 30, CLARION IN ADDITION TO SHOOTINGS IN 2023. TONIGHT’S EVENT COMES AMIDST RENEWED WIDESPREAD ATTENTION ON THE MASS SHOOTING AT THE TREE OF LIFE SYNAGOGUE IN 2018 THAT KILLED 11 PEOPLE IN THREE CONGREGATIONS. THE SHOOTER, OF COURSE, WAS CONVICTED LAST WEEK, AND HE’S FACING THE PROSPECT OF A DEATH SENTENCE. ONE OF THE SPEAKERS TONIGHT WAS RABBI JONATHAN PERLMAN OF THE NEW LIGHT CONGREGATION. HE WAS AT THE SYNAGOGUE THAT DAY AND HE HELPED DIRECT PEOPLE TO A SPACE TO HIDE. HE TESTIFIED IN THE TRIAL EARLIERTHIS MONTH. AND TONIGHT HE URGED THE PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE TO NOT BECOME NUMB TO THE SCOURGE OF GUN VIOLENCE AND THAT ONLY OUTRAGE WILL SPUR CHANGE. WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS HAS HAPPENING, NOT JUST WEEKLY, BUT SOMETIMES DAILY OR EVERY TWO DAYS? THE CHILDREN ARE FINDING WEAPONS. MAYBE THEY’RE ILLEGAL, MAYBE THEY WERE MADE FOR THEM. MAYBE WE THEY GOT THEM FROM THEIR PARENTS WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN LOCKED UP. AND THEY ARE USING THEM AGAINST EACH OTHER LAST LAST MONTH, THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE HOUSE DID PASS TWO GUN CONTROL RELATED BILLS. ONE ON RED FLAG LAWS, ONE EXPAND, ADDING MORE BACKGROUND CHECKS. BUT THOSE BILLS STILL NEED TO GO THROUGH THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED SENATE BEFORE THEY CAN GET TO GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO’S DESK. REPORT
'Our outrage will be able to get things moving again': Vigil focuses on blight of gun violence
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Updated: 11:38 PM EDT Jun 22, 2023
Dozens of people packed a room inside the Jeron X. Grayson Community Center in the Hill District Thursday, as they honored victims of gun violence.The Clergy Council of Squirrel Hill Stands Against Gun Violence and CeaseFirePA co-hosted a vigil as part of Gun Violence Awareness Month.Speakers took turns reciting the names of every person killed by gun violence in Allegheny County in 2023.The event comes amid renewed widespread attention on the 2018 synagogue shooting, as survivors of the massacre and relatives of the victims brace themselves for the death penalty phase that is slated to start Monday."Only our outrage will be able to get things moving again," said Rabbi Jonathan Perlman, of the New Light Congregation. "Only our outrage will be able to shut down some of these gun manufacturers who decide, ‘Ya know, guns shouldn't be playthings for children.'"Perlman was inside the Tree of Life Synagogue on Oct. 27, 2o18, and helped direct survivors to safe places to hide. He testified earlier this month during the guilt phase of the shooter's trial.Squirrel Hill Stands Against Gun Violence was formed after the mass shooting that day in 2018, comprised of survivors, members of the three congregations that were attacked, and people in the greater Pittsburgh community.The group has advocated for the advancement of legislation on four fronts:Universal background checksExtreme risk protection orders (commonly known as red flag laws)Banning high-capacity magazinesBanning military-style/assault weaponsThe Pennsylvania House passed two gun control bills related to expanding background checks and red flag laws, respectively, but they would need to pass through the Republican-controlled Senate before getting to the governor's desk.
PITTSBURGH — Dozens of people packed a room inside the Jeron X. Grayson Community Center in the Hill District Thursday, as they honored victims of gun violence.
The Clergy Council of Squirrel Hill Stands Against Gun Violence and CeaseFirePA co-hosted a vigil as part of Gun Violence Awareness Month.
Speakers took turns reciting the names of every person killed by gun violence in Allegheny County in 2023.
The event comes amid renewed widespread attention on the 2018 synagogue shooting, as survivors of the massacre and relatives of the victims brace themselves for the death penalty phase that is slated to start Monday.
"Only our outrage will be able to get things moving again," said Rabbi Jonathan Perlman, of the New Light Congregation. "Only our outrage will be able to shut down some of these gun manufacturers who decide, ‘Ya know, guns shouldn't be playthings for children.'"
Perlman was inside the Tree of Life Synagogue on Oct. 27, 2o18, and helped direct survivors to safe places to hide. He testified earlier this month during the guilt phase of the shooter's trial.
Squirrel Hill Stands Against Gun Violence was formed after the mass shooting that day in 2018, comprised of survivors, members of the three congregations that were attacked, and people in the greater Pittsburgh community.
The group has advocated for the advancement of legislation on four fronts:
- Universal background checks
- Extreme risk protection orders (commonly known as red flag laws)
- Banning high-capacity magazines
- Banning military-style/assault weapons
The Pennsylvania House passed two gun control bills related to expanding background checks and red flag laws, respectively, but they would need to pass through the Republican-controlled Senate before getting to the governor's desk.
