Major New Gun Law Could be Coming to Philadelphia

If D.A. Seth Williams gets the support he needs in Harrisburg, a new state law will bring a mandatory 2-year prison sentence to anyone carrying an illegal firearm in Philadelphia. (The legislation would not affect any other cities.) According to Williams, speaking yesterday at a press conference, 85% of the 331 homicides that occurred last year were committed with guns, each one of them possessed illegally. There is bipartisan support for the bill among Philly-area legislators, but Republican House Majority leader Mike Turzai is skeptical, saying through a spokesman that existing gun laws work just fine. (Then again, there weren’t 331 homicides in Pittsburgh, which he represents.) [Inquirer]