Pennsylvania must create gun violence task force to take back streets

HARRISBURG, June 29- State Rep. Ron Waters, D-Delaware/Phila., called on Gov. Tom Corbett and the General Assembly to create a task force on gun violence and trafficking in the Commonwealth.

Waters was joined by members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, including Rep. Thaddeus Kirkland, D-Chester, who called on the governor to form an expanded task force composed of law enforcement officials to investigate the use and transport of illegal guns and assault weapons across the Commonwealth.

Waters request came on the heels of the recent string of 32 shootings in Philadelphia, which included six homicides. Many of those who were shot were innocent people, including young children, said Waters, who noted that the No. 1 priority of government is to protect its citizens. Corbett formed a similar task force as attorney general, but has not created one as governor. A gun task force would include representatives of the Pennsylvania State Police, as they are equipped with surveillance capabilities and the manpower to handle the influx of illegal weapons to the state.

"Gun violence has hit our inner cities and urban areas hard," Waters said. "The state needs to take tougher action to get guns off the street and out of the hands of criminals. By creating a gun violence and trafficking task force, Pennsylvania can lead the nation in reducing incidents of violence crime in our cities."

Waters said the task force would not go after legal, law-abiding gun owners, and would only serve to strengthen law enforcement's ability to take illegal guns off the street.

"The people using illegally-obtained guns are criminals, plain and simple. We do not want to go after people who own guns and use them for sporting purposes. We simply want totake illegal weapons out of the hands of dangerous criminals and out of our communities," Waters said. "Taking illegal guns out of the hands of people who have bad intentions does not violate and Second Amendment cover.

"We also have to look at programs with a proven track record of reducing violence and recidivism and turning communities around, such as Weed and Seed. The program has been eliminated from the budget, and I call on the governor to reinstate it," Waters said.

Waters said more than $125 million is spent each year on immediate health care needs of shooting victims. Of this amount, he said, taxpayers pay $90 million for medical care for uninsured victims. Gun violence is responsible for the death of 1,200 people each year in Pennsylvania. In 2007, the state had 719 homicides, with 73 percent gun-related.

According to the National Cemter for Health Statistics, from 2000 to 2009 more than 65,000 people of color living in urban communities nationwide lost lives to gun violence.

Waters serves as the chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus.