Mass Shooting at Linen Company Outside of Philadelphia Kills Two and Wounds Three Others, Underscoring Urgent Need for Action on Gun Violence in Pennsylvania; Moms Demand Action Responds

CHESTER, Pa. – Today, Everytown for Gun Safety and its grassroots network, Moms Demand Action, released the following statement in response to a mass shooting at a linen company, Delaware County Linen shop, in Chester, Pennsylvania early Wednesday morning. While details are still emerging, reports indicate that at least 2 people were killed and 3 others were wounded when an employee opened fire at the workplace. All five of those who were shot were co-workers. The suspect was taken into custody. 

“Nowhere in America should showing up for work be a death sentence. Our hearts are with those who were shot and killed today and those injured who will always feel the impact of today’s shooting,” said MaryPat Scorzetti, a volunteer with the Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Today is yet another reminder that stronger gun safety laws are long overdue in Pennsylvania. It’s time our lawmakers act instead of cowering to the gun lobby. We’re demanding that they take action to prevent another community from feeling this same type of pain.” 

Despite repeated calls from advocates to pass gun violence prevention legislation, the Pennsylvania Senate has yet to take up any common sense gun safety measures this session. As a result, the Senate’s commitment to prioritizing the gun lobby over public safety has stalled numerous efforts made by the House to send gun sense legislation to the Governor’s desk.

Last year, House lawmakers passed several measures that have remained stalled in the Senate, which is controlled by a majority that would rather prioritize the gun lobby over public safety. These measures include an extreme risk law and expanded background check requirement for all sales of firearms, in addition to a ban on ghost guns, which passed the House earlier this Spring.

Governor Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis have made gun violence prevention a priority for their administration this year, calling for $100 million in funding to support gun violence prevention in the Commonwealth. Community violence prevention organizations are critical partners in the fight to reduce gun violence but often do not receive the funding or support from the government to sustain their work, demonstrating the critical need for this support. 

In an average year, 1,759 people die by guns in Pennsylvania and another 4,020 are wounded. Gun violence costs Pennsylvania $21.7 billion each year, of which $470.7 million is paid by taxpayers. More information about gun violence Pennsylvania is available here.