Pennsylvania Moms Demand Action Applaud Pennsylvania Mayors for Calling on Lawmakers to Reject Legislation That Would Further Prevent Local Officials From Fighting Gun Violence

House Bill 1066 Would Add a Punitive Element to Pennsylvania’s Current Preemption Law, Burdening Taxpayers With Legal Fees and Costs

More Than a Dozen Pennsylvania Mayors Signed Letter — Including Pittsburgh Mayor Peduto and Philadelphia Mayor Kenney

PITTSBURGH — The Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today applauded mayors from across the state for urging the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to reject legislation that would further impede local officials from preventing gun violence in their communities. See letter and full list of signers here.

“We’re glad to see these mayors speak out against a bill that moves Pennsylvania in the wrong direction,” said Erin Buchner, a volunteer with Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. “We need to take action on gun violence, not create more hurdles for our local representatives that leaves taxpayers footing the bill. Lawmakers should take note of this letter and reject HB 1066.”

House Bill 1066 would add a punitive element to Pennsylvania’s current preemption law, forcing taxpayers to pay attorneys’ fees and court costs when individuals and out-of-state gun lobby groups sue local agencies or elected officials for enforcing local gun laws, or simply having them on the books. In the past month, several Pennsylvania editorial boards urged lawmakers to advance gun safety legislation and reject House Bill 1066.