►
Description
The Committee on Public Safety of the Council of the City of Philadelphia held a Public Hearing on Wednesday, June 1, 2016 to hear testimony on the following items:
No. 160331
An Ordinance amending Section 10-834 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Responsibility to Avoid Possession and Discharge of Firearms by Children," by requiring safe storage of firearms and ammunition; all under certain terms and conditions.
No. 160333
An Ordinance amending Chapter 10-800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Safety," by amending Section 10-820, entitled "Cutting Weapons in Public Places," by excluding certain emergency personnel from the prohibition on the use and possession of cutting tools.
No. 160517
An Ordinance amending Chapter 10-600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Public Places - Prohibited Conduct," by adding a new Section 10-615, entitled "Disorderly Conduct and Related Offenses," to prohibit certain types of disorderly public conduct and to provide for penalties, all under certain terms and conditions.
Chair: Councilman Curtis Jones Jr. (4th District)
A
A
A
B
Good
morning,
everyone,
this
is
a
committee
on
public
safety
and
City
Council,
and
we
will
begin
our
public
hearings
joining
me
today.
Our
council
president
Clark
councilman
Greenlee
councilman,
gem
and
council
Gill
I.
Do
it
every
time
I
do
that
you
get
lunch:
okay
and
Councilman,
it's
on
record
councilman,
tolland
burger!
Well,
the
clerk.
Please
read
the
titles
of
the
bills
to
be
heard
today.
C
160
333
in
ordinance
amending
chapter
10,
800
of
the
Philadelphia
code
entitled
safety
by
amending
section,
10,
8
20
entitled
cutting
weapons
in
public
places
by
excluding
certain
emergency
personnel
from
the
prohibition
on
the
use
of
possession
of
cutting
tools
and
160
331
in
ordinance
amending
section,
10,
8
30
for
the
Philadelphia
code
entitled
responsibility
to
avoid
possession
and
discharge
of
firearms
by
children
by
requiring
safe
storage
of
firearms
and
ammunition,
all
under
certain
terms
and
conditions.
Thank.
B
D
You
very
much
mr.
chairman,
first
I'd
like
to
say
mr.
Chairman
I
want
to
thank
you
for
continuing
to
be
an
advocate
for
the
people,
particularly
around
public
safety
measures.
Your
recent
chairing
of
the
criminal
justice
reform
will
bear
some
significant
fruit.
I
just
want
to
publicly
thank
you
for
the
great
work
you've
done
it
also.
You
can
genuine
efforts
on
dealing
with
gun
violence
in
our
streets,
real
briefly
before
you
start
the
rest
of
the
last
want
to
say
to
them.
D
The
bill
that
we
have
authored
with
respects
to
possession
of
weapons
for
young
children
is
clearly
something
that
needs
to
happen.
I
think
we're
up
to
around
twenty
three
children
nationwide
that
have
gotten
access
to
weapons
and
have
shot
either
themselves
or
members
of
the
family.
That
is
something
that
can
be
prevented.
That
is
also
something
that
I
don't
see.
Why
any
app
gun
rights
advocacy
groups
would
have
problem
with
that
bill.
We're
not
talking
about
keeping
guns
away
from
those
individuals,
pervy
Constitution,
but
we're
talking
about
keeping
guns
away
from
young
children.
D
B
You,
mr.
president,
for
continued
and
your
commitment
to
gun
safety,
gumpert
proliferation
in
our
community
is
at
epidemic
portions
of
proportions,
and
we're
glad
that
you
keep
this
on
our
radar
since
I've
been
here
in
07,
it's
been
one
of
your
priorities
and
in
spite
of
lawsuits
in
spite
of
the
NRA,
in
spite
of
all
that
you
keep
coming
back.
So
maybe
they
need
to
get
the
message
that
we're
not
going
away
on
this
issue
on.
Thank
you
so
much
miss
Williams.
Can
you
please
read
the
first
group
to
testify.
B
A
Thank
you
very
much
I'm
talking
on
bill
160
333,
and
that
is
allowing
fire
personnel
to
carry
the
weapons
of
been
up
with
their
their
their
tools
of
their
trade
with
them
at
any
time.
I
believe
strongly
that
this
will
encourage
additional
safety
because
they
will
have
them
with
them
and
I'm
very
glad
to
to
offer
this,
but,
along
with
yourself,
councilman
Jones
and
Councilman
DOM,
councilman,
O'neil
and
Councilwoman
again
and
I.
Look
forward
to
the
testimony
Thank.
B
F
F
Morning,
chairman
Jones
and
members
of
Public
Safety
Committee,
my
name
is
Julie
wertheimer
and
I'm
chief
of
staff
for
the
deputy
managing
director
for
criminal
justice.
The
managing
directors
office
is
here
to
offer
a
testimony
in
support
of
bill
number
1
605
17,
which
amend
chapter
10
600
of
the
city
code,
to
include
a
new
section,
10
6
15,
entitled
disorderly
conduct
and
related
offenses
to
prohibit
certain
types
of
disorderly
conduct
and
for
to
provide
penalties
all
under
certain
terms
and
conditions.
F
The
intent
of
this
bill
is
to
decriminalize
certain
low-level
public
conduct
offenses
in
public
places.
It
will
effectively
prevent
approximately
10,000
new
incidents
per
year
from
entering
the
criminal
justice
system
by
permitting
the
Philadelphia
Police
Department
to
address
disorderly
public
behavior
through
a
civil
system.
Currently,
the
police
department
issues
approximately
10,000
low-level
criminal
summary
citations
per
year
for
public
conduct
defenses
as
violations
of
the
Pennsylvania
State
Criminal
Code.
F
Most
often
the
police
are
issuing
these
criminal
citations
for
public
disorder
type
behaviors,
such
as
disorderly
conduct,
failure
to
disperse
and
obstructing
the
highway,
because
these
offenses
are
currently
cited
as
violations
of
the
state
criminal
code
violators
obtain
a
criminal
record
and
ultimately
enter
into
our
criminal
justice
system.
For
example,
if
an
individual
does
not
pay
their
fine
or
appear
for
their
hearing,
a
bench
warrant
is
issued
seriously
increasing
the
likelihood
of
future
incarceration
for
that
individual
in
its
current
form.
F
The
city
code,
which
structs
restricts
the
use
of
civil
citations
by
the
police
department,
based
on
the
place
where
the
offense
occurs,
police
have
the
authority
to
issue
civil
citations
in
place
of
public
assembly
such
as
stadiums
or
concert
halls.
However,
in
most
public
encounters
outside
of
these
venues,
law
enforcement
officers
have
no
civil
alternative
to
subjecting
these
low-level
violators
to
the
criminal
justice
system.
F
One
of
the
major
initiatives
under
the
MacArthur
grant
is
to
increase
opportunities
for
pre-arrest
aversion,
limiting
an
individual's
contact
with
the
system
and
reducing
the
negative
effects
that
an
arrest
or
incarceration
can
have
on
an
individual
who
poses
little
or
no
threat
to
public
safety
explained
expanding
the
applicability
of
the
Philadelphia
City
code
for
disorderly
conduct.
Offensive
is
part
of
the
solution
and
we
believe
will
significantly
reduce
the
number
of
individuals
that
come
into
contact
with
the
criminal
justice
system
for
low-level
nonviolent
behavior.
F
This
goal
is
also
in
line
with
the
work
of
the
purpose
of
City
Council's
special
committee
on
criminal
justice
reform
led
by
you,
chairman
Jones.
Furthermore,
this
bill
will
enhance
the
police
department's
ability
to
respond
to
non
violent
incidents
that
may
occur
during
the
democratic
national
convention
the
summer,
without
unnecessarily
overwhelming
our
justice
system.
Police
Department
is
motivated
to
both
maintain
public
safety
during
the
convention
and
to
preserve
the
First
Amendment
rights
of
individuals
to
protest.
It
is
expected
that
law
enforcement
may
have
to
use
their
authority
to
maintain
control
the
crowds
during
the
convention.
F
This
bill
will
allow
police
to
issue
the
civil
code
violation
notice
rather
than
a
criminal,
citation
or
arrest
for
some
disorderly
behaviors.
This
will
eventually
decrease
the
involvement
police
need
to
have
with
individuals
during
invention,
while
preserving
their
discretion,
to
intervene
more
significantly
if
public
safety
is
at
risk.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
in
support
of
bill
number
160,
517
I'm
happy
to
answer
any
questions
you
may
have
at
this
time.
If.
E
Morning,
chairman
Jones
and
members
of
the
committee
of
public
safety,
my
name
is
Captain
Francis,
Healy
and
I'm,
a
special
legal
advisor
to
commissioner
Ross
on
behalf
of
the
Commissioner.
Thank
you
for
allowing
the
department
to
voice
its
opinion
on
this
very
important
piece
of
legislation.
Bill
number,
10,
r160,
517.
E
Evidence
surrounding
the
concept
of
procedural
justice
suggests
that
fair
decision
making
and
respectful
treatment
of
the
police
can
enhance
the
trust
or
legitimacy
of
the
police
within
the
communities
which,
within
the
communities
which
then
promotes
greater
lower-body
behavior.
This
theory
suggests
that
the
way
police
interact
with
people,
including
suspects,
has
a
bearing
on
whether
they
feel
valued
as
a
part
of
society
while
experiences
a
fair
treatment,
helped
build
that
sense
of
group,
identity
and
shared
values.
E
Unfair
police
treatment
erodes
feelings
of
public
trust
and
send
out
a
strong
signal
to
citizens
that
they
are
not
valued
and
that
the
rules
do
not
apply
to
them.
Therefore,
under
commissioner
Ross,
the
police
department
actively
and
continuously
review
policies,
procedures
and
training
to
identify
methods
or
techniques
that
will
instill
and
enhance
the
accountability
and
legitimacy
of
the
police
department.
E
However,
with
the
recent
decriminalization
of
marijuana
in
the
city,
certain
unintended
consequences
have
occurred
that
undermined
this
trust
and
legitimacy
which
commissioner
Ross
believes
must
be
addressed
specifically
low-level
state
summary,
disorderly
conduct,
type
offenses
now
carry
a
more
serious
penalty
for
Philadelphia
citizens
than
possessing
marijuana.
This
is
unhurt
ly
unfair,
while
the
responsibility
for
means
to
enforce
laws
fairly
is
also
our
responsibility
to
stand
up
against
laws
that
are
unfair,
so
the
department
has
collaborated
with
managing
directors
office
and
reached
out
to
this
bill.
E
Sponsors
councilman,
Jones
out
of
yourself
that
for
help
to
develop
a
solution
bill
number
one
selling
1605
17,
is
that
solution
by
men
in
the
city
code
to
include
the
most
cited
state
disorderly
conduct.
Offenses
officers
in
Philadelphia
will
be
permitted
to
issue
code
violations
in
lieu
of
state
charges
for
disorderly
conduct,
failure
to
disperse
and
obstructing
highways
or
other
passageways.
Consequently,
the
impact
on
violators
would
at
least
be
on
par
with
a
marijuana
changes.
E
It
is
a
fair
and
procedurally
just
solution
that
will
help
build
trust
and
legitimacy
of
the
police
who
are
tasked
with
enforcing
these
laws
within
the
communities
we
serve.
This
is
only
a
step
in
the
process,
but
a
very
important
step
forward
for
the
above-mentioned,
or
for
the
above-mentioned
reasons,
the
police
department
fully
supports
this
bill
and
I'd
be
happy
to
answer
any
questions.
Thank.
B
You
for
your
testimony
before
I
go
to
councilman
tolland
burger,
a
couple
of
things,
so
I've
been
contacted
in
a
chance
meeting
by
the
owner
of
the
Oregon
done,
and
he
says,
there's
a
gentleman
that
routinely
decides
to
our
take
advantage
of
his
location
to
publicly
drink
and
a
case
like
that.
What
we
would
do
in
that
scenario
versus
something
that's
coming
up
in
my
district,
which
is
the
bike
race,
public
drinking,
was
a
issue.
We
managed
to
calm
that
down
on
some
drastic
steps.
B
We
took
over
with
a
foot
lack
of
a
better
worker,
a
drunk
court
up
in
the
fifth
District,
and
it
calmed
things
down.
It
sent
a
signal
so
that
now
all
we
have
to
have
is
the
folks
from
liquor
enforcement
walking
around
publicly
and
folk
kinda
have
been
conditioned
to
act
responsibly.
So
give
me
a
couple
of
those
scenarios
on
what
the
leeway
of
an
officer
would
be
today
versus.
Oh,
let.
E
Me
just
go
by
way
of
analogy
of
a
scenario:
that's
that's
happened
as
a
result
of
the
marijuana.
If
you
have
a
juvenile
smoking
marijuana
on
the
corner,
standing
there
with
a
his
buddy
who's,
also
16
17
years
old,
he's
drinking
a
beer
police
officers
come
on
scene,
the
individual.
The
marijuana
now
gets
a
citation
and
is
released.
E
E
His
license
will
be
suspended
for
three
months
and
in
par
we
as
a
department
thought
that
was
inherently
unfair
and
the
community
knows
what's
fair
was
not
so
they
really
get
it,
and
so
this
is
incredibly
important
for
us
to
be
able
to
look
at.
You
know
honestly,
look
at
the
community
in
the
eye
and
say
what
we're
trying
to
do
is
be
fair
with
you.
So
we
want
to
be
able
to
take
enforcement
action,
but
we're
not
looking
too
overly
criminalize
the
nuisance
that
behavior.
B
E
I'll
be
very
honest.
This
is
that
the
front
end
of
the
entire
criminal
justice
system,
but
the
issue
a
lot
of
these
individuals
don't
get
into
they.
Don't
obviously
don't
go
to
jail
over
these
type
of
things,
but
there
are
such
low-level
offenses
that
many
people
forget
to
go
to
court
or
they
just
ignore
court
or
juveniles.
Just
don't
tell
their
parents
and
Lex
thing.
You
know
they
have
bench
warrants
issued
for
them,
so
they
actually
get
into
the
system.
E
In
that
regard,
where
next
thing
you
know
they
get
scooped
up
three
four
or
five
years
later
on
a
car
stopped
and
next
thing
you
know
they
have
a
bench
warrant
for
them.
They
don't
even
remember
what
the
bench
warrants
for,
but
nonetheless
they
get
brought
into
the
process
in
that
regard,
which,
like
I,
said
these
are
people
that
don't
belong
in
a
criminal
justice
system
per
se.
These
are
petty,
disorderly
type,
offenses
and
the
city
code,
I
think,
is
a
more
appropriate
vehicle
to
actually
for
the
penalty,
especially
now
that
marijuana
is
in
that.
E
E
The
the
essence
for
the
police
officers
very
very
little
difference.
Okay,
because
it's
a
piece
of
paper.
It's
one
piece
of
paper
for
one-
goes
in
one
direction:
to
a
criminal
court
one's
going
to
go
to
a
civil
civil
fine.
So
it's
really
no
dramatic
impact
on
the
police
department
on
how
they're
going
to
be
able
to
police
these
events,
but
the
ability
of
the
efficiency
of
being
able
to
process
individuals
faster
will
be
there
with
the
CBN.
It's
basically,
it
looks
like
a
parking
ticket.
E
We're
looking
to
enhance
that,
quite
frankly,
specifically
for
the
police
department,
make
it
easier
for
the
officer
but
it'll
be
a
very
quick
procedure
where
the
individual
begin
that
song
finds
and
then
an
opportunity
I
believe
they
pay
early
with
the
system.
They
actually
pay
less.
So
I
guess
what.
E
Well,
we
use
the
exact
same
terminology
so
as
we
don't
confuse
apples
and
oranges.
Very
honestly,
we
use
the
exact
same
language.
That's
in
the
state
code.
The
officers
know
what
disorderly
conduct
is
as
best
it
can
be
defined
or
I
believe.
There's
five
different
subsections
of
disorder,
a
tumultuous
behavior
fighting
and
on
all
those
type
of
things.
The
officers
are
now
have
the
ability
to
actually
use
this
code
violation,
those
for
this
type
of
behavior.
So.
B
A
I
see
it
in
the
testimony
that
you
have
given
us
and
I.
Thank
you
very
much
for
that
testimony
and
your
service
as
a
whole.
It
this
just
is
another
tool,
a
very
efficient
tool.
I
believe
correct
me.
If
you
think
I'm
wrong
in
that
police
officer
can
use
this,
that
his
or
her
discretion
with
that
position.
Of
course
happening.
A
Did
you
know
the
public
being
prohibited
from
using
the
footway
or
someone
being
obnoxious
to
somebody
else
without
clogging
up
the
system,
the
judicial
system
and
moving
this
along,
because
I
think
sometimes
just
the
fact
that
a
ticket
is
written,
our
citation
is
written
is
really
punishment
enough
in
many
cases,
so
I
mean
am
I
getting
this
right.
That
is
additional
tool
for
efficiency.
It's.
E
You've
got
it
exactly
right,
plus
I'll,
be
very
a
fairness
to
like
I
said
the
the
penalty
for
doing
these
type
of
violations
should
not
exceed
that
of
marijuana.
Quite
frankly,
marijuana
outside
of
Philadelphia
still
a
misdemeanor
offense.
Yes,
so
in
theory
people
doing
summary
offenses
in
Philadelphia
are
being
penalized
higher
than
committing
theoretically
a
misdemeanor.
So
in
the
communities
that
we
serve,
they
understand.
It's
not
fair,
so
I
think
this
levels.
The
playing
field,
gives
us
a
lot
of
credibility.
E
I
mean
then
the
fact
that
we're
not
trying
to
overly
criminalize
this
type
of
behavior,
but
we
have
to
take
action
sometime
to
control,
and
this
is
a
very
good,
efficient,
alternative
and
I
think
it
will
work
well.
The
officers
have
been
very
receptive
and
they
thought
they
brought
it
forward
and
said
they're
really.
Looking
forward
to
this
very.
G
You
very
much,
I'm
also
very
supportive
of
this
bill.
Overall.
One
of
the
areas,
though,
that
I
wanted
to
ask
a
little
bit
about
was
the
relationship
between
disorderly
conduct
and
domestic
violence.
It's
situations
and
whether
there's
the
you
know
is
there
any
overlap,
because
I
am
interested
in
making
sure
that
situations
that
involve
domestic
violence,
don't
suddenly
get
run
down
in
some
way,
and
with
just
like
your
clarity
on
that
a
little
bit
Calum.
E
2711
of
the
Pennsylvania
crimes
could
allows
us
to
make
a
warrantless
arrest
for
a
misdemeanor
offense.
Our
officers
have
been
trained
and
have
been
handling
domestic
violence
for
almost
I.
Think
since
1994-95,
when
this
done
actually
law
got
changed
to
expand
the
scope,
so
that
allows
officers
to
intervene,
I,
don't
know
of
any
officers.
Quite
honestly,
that's
going
to
misinterpret
a
a
domestic
violence,
call
where
there's
actually
a
battery
that
happened
as
opposed
to
disorderly
conduct.
Its
early
conduct
is
happening
in
a
public
forum.
E
A
A
B
C
C
B
B
H
You
mr.
chairman
members
of
the
committee
I'm
Adam
teal,
the
Commissioner
of
the
Philadelphia
Fire
Department
here
to
testify
in
support
of
bill
160
333
caption,
cutting
wedding,
cutting
weapon
exception
for
fire
and
EMS
personnel,
and
my
seventeenth
day
here
on
the
job
in
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
I,
certainly
have
already
been
impressed
by
the
city
and
definitely
by
the
commitment
of
all
of
our
fire
and
EMS
providers.
H
In
order
to
do
their
jobs
and
I
should
say
that
these
folks
are
really
on
duty,
24,
7
365,
even
if
they're
not
getting
paid
by
the
city.
Many
of
them
are,
of
course
trained
firefighters,
EMTs
paramedics
and
they
often
find
themselves
with
a
duty
to
act
or
in
situations
where
they
ethically
feel
like
they
have
a
moral
obligation
to
help
protect
lives
and
property,
even
when
they
are
not
aboard
a
fire
apparatus
or
an
EMS
vehicle.
H
We
have
my
president
who's,
a
vice
president
of
our
local
22,
and
also
a
battalion
chief
on
our
job
here.
To
talk
about
how
our
firefighters
and
EMS
personnel
use
these
tools
on
a
daily
basis.
We
certainly
appreciate
your
efforts
to
ensure
that
they
are
doing
that
in
full
compliance
with
all
applicable
laws
and
regulations,
so
they
can
continue
their
service
24
7
365
I've
also
submit
a
written
testimony.
Thank
you
again.
B
B
A
I
just
have
one
very,
very
simple
question
and
also
a
a
comet
commissioner,
a
teal
officially
welcome
to
the
city
of
Philadelphia
from
from
myself,
and
we
look
forward
to
working
with
you
and
a
great
department
and
I
think
working
with
you.
The
department
has
even
an
opportunity
to
become
greater
yet
so,
when
it
comes
to
the
safety
of
our
citizens,
anything
we
can
do
to
enhance
that
I
want
to
be
there,
which
is
the
reason
for
authoring
the
the
following
bill.
The
question
I
have
is
upon
passage
in
this
being
implemented.
H
H
You
see
all
the
fire
apparatus,
our
medic
units
are
loaded
with
various
types
of
cutting
tools
from
specialized
to
the
very
simple
you
know,
pocket
knife
type
devices
candidly,
it's
it's
probably
something
that
we
have
a
lot
of
folks
already
so
equipped
and
I'm,
not
sure
how
this
will
potentially
affect
that
their
deployment
of
those
devices.
But
we
certainly
think
again
that
are
our
members
want
to
help
24,
7,
365
I,
think
our
city
has
seen
that
over
and
over
and
I
expect.
H
H
Chairman
I'm
a
happily
living
you're
in
your
district
sort
of
it,
the
corner
of
the
corner
of
manayunk
in
roxboro.
You
know
I,
don't
necessarily
want
to
commit,
but
very
happy
to
live
along
the
this
google
nav
navigation
company
canal
and
not
there
very
often
right
now.
But
I
am
looking
forward
to
enjoying.
H
D
Other
question
for
this
panel:
councilman
I
just
got
one
nice
one
to
add
to
the
commissioner,
firefighters
and
EMS
personnel,
just
like
police
officers.
We
take
an
oath
of
office
and
once
we
take
that
oath,
that's
for
life
on
or
off
duty
and
orange
stinks
door
to
act
and
I
was
telling
councilman
a
lawyer.
This
wasn't
even
a
human
being.
This
was
a
dog
I.
Remember,
I
was
off-duty
one
time.
I
had
my
father
knife
in
my
pocket.
Kid
left
his
dog
outside
the
corner
deli.
A
couple
steps.
D
The
dog
was
wrapped
around
a
lease
was
around
its
neck
was
actually
hanging
itself.
If
I
don't
have
that
knife
to
cut
her
loose,
you
know
it
was
just
one
example
where
you
know
it
isn't:
a
human
being,
but,
like
the
commissioner
said,
auto
accidents,
kids,
entangled
and
stuff,
it's
a
tool
to
central
tool
that
most
guys
I
know
carried
on
all
32
work
from
work.
So
just
for
the
record.
B
We
know
your
oath
and
we
know
that
it
takes
a
special
kind
of
individual
to
run
into
danger.
So,
whatever
tools
you
need
to
do
that
I
believe
it
is
the
will
of
this
body
to
make
sure
your
you're
adequately
provided
for
and
I
know.
I
got
one
vote
because,
once
you
said
the
dog
analogy,
councilman
Johnson
is
big
one
on
one
on
pits.
So
all
right
are
any
questions
not
seeing
none.
Thank
you
for
your
service
and
thank
you
for
your
testimony.
Oh
thank
you
all
miss
Williams
who
do
we
have
next
the.
C
B
A
A
E
Won't
say
anything
about
fairness,
I'm
kidding
for
the
record
good
morning,
Jeremy
Jones
and
other
members
of
committee
on
public
safety.
My
name
is
friend
our
captain,
francis
Healy
I'm,
special
adviser
commissioner
Ross,
on
behalf
of
the
Commissioner.
Thank
you
for
allowing
the
department
to
testify
on
bill
number
160
331
regarding
storage
requirements
for
firearms
and
ammunition,
the
city
foot
on.
B
E
E
Very
well,
the
intent
of
this
legislation
is
clearly
to
prevent
death
and
serious
injuries
to
children
from
guns,
foundling
homes
of
lawful
gun
owners
in
Philadelphia.
For
this
reason,
the
Philadelphia
Police
Department
lloyds
both
councilman
council
president
Clark
and
councilman
Johnson,
for
introducing
this
legislation
and
Philadelphia
Police
Department
fully
supports
this
intent.
We
agree
that
locking
devices
should
be
provided
upon
every
sale
or
transfer
of
firearm.
Such
devices
are
now
required
under
state
law
in
the
Pennsylvania
crimes,
Code
section
61
42.
Nonetheless,
oftentimes
these
locking
devices
are
not
used
by
farm
owners.
E
So
the
police
department
supports
the
additional
protections
of
requiring
all
unattended
guns
to
be
stored
in
a
locked
container.
However,
the
department
would
be
remiss
if
it
did
not
acknowledge
that
the
language
in
the
bill
could
be
problematic
and
controversial.
That
said,
the
department
prepare
is
prepared
to
assist
in
any
effort
to
overcome
any
of
these
obstacles.
The
attended
this
bill
is
to
save
the
lives
of
children.
On
this
point,
no
one
can
argue
that
guns
do
not
blow
in
the
hands
of
unsupervised
children.
E
The
photography
police
department
stands
committed
to
working
with
all
interested
parties
on
this
issue
to
develop
common
sense
laws
to
protect
our
children.
Gun
ownership
is
a
right
in
this
country
and,
with
all
rights,
come
great
responsibilities
for
most
gun
owners.
This
is
not
an
issue,
but
for
the
few,
regrettably,
legislation
such
as
this
is
needed.
Thank
you
for
the
opportunity
to
testify
on
bill
number
160,
331
and
I'd
happy
to
answer
any
questions.
It's
done,
we'll.
I
You
chairman,
my
name,
is
Shira
Goodman
on
the
executive
director
at
ceasefire
PA.
We
are
a
statewide
organization
working
with
mayor's
police
chief
city
council's
faith,
leaders,
community
organizations
and
individual
pennsylvanians
to
take
a
stand
against
gun
violence.
We
thank
you
for
this
opportunity
to
be
here
today
and
we
thank
council
for
its
ongoing
efforts
to
fight
gun,
violence
and
gun
tragedies.
This
council
has
been
a
leader
we're
sometimes
in
Pennsylvania.
It
has
been
hard
to
do
so.
I
This
bill
aims
to
create
a
safe
storage
child
access
prevention,
ordinance
for
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
does
not
have
such
an
ordinance,
although
27
other
states
in
the
District
of
Columbia
do,
and
the
data
shows
that
these
laws
have
been
successful
in
reducing
unintentional
shootings
as
well
as
suicides
among
young
people.
Unlocked
guns
in
the
home
do
increase
the
risk
for
unintentional
shootings,
intentional
shootings
and
suicides.
There
are
several
studies
that
show
that
laws
such
as
this
do
reduce
the
incidence
of
youth
suicide
attempts,
as
well
as
unintentional
deaths
among
young
people.
I
Smart
gun
laws,
org,
which
is
a
website
of
the
law
Center
to
Prevent,
Gun
Violence
details
these
studies
and
details.
The
different
kinds
of
laws
that
are
different
states
have
passed.
This
bill
sets
forth
what
they
would
view
as
a
stronger
law.
It
gives
penalties,
criminal
penalties
for
adults
who
leave,
who
recklessly
or
knowingly
give
access
unsupervised
access
to
a
child
of
a
gun,
and
it
also
has
important
exceptions
and
defenses
to
liability.
I
We
believe
this
will
foster
better
storage
and
access
child
access,
prevention
policies
and
practices,
and
again
those
practices
have
been
demonstrated
to
be
effective
in
reducing
these
unintentional
shootings
and
suicides,
as
well
as
intentional
shootings
among
young
people.
We
think
that
imposing
criminal
liability
can
have
an
educational
and
a
motivational
effect.
It
can
be
teach
adults
how
to
do
better.
We
often
hear
that
gun
owners
do
want
to
do
the
right
thing.
I
They
just
don't
want
to
be
told
what
to
do,
but
we
know
that
from
the
experiences
of
other
jurisdictions
that
sometimes
having
these
laws
in
place
can
make
a
difference
in
saving
lives.
So
we
believe
it
represents
a
reasonable
effort
to
prevent
gun,
violence
and
gun
tragedies
involving
Philadelphia's
youth.
We
hope
that
the
rest
of
the
Commonwealth
will
follow
counsels.
Sound
example.
J
Morning
in
german
jones
and
members
of
the
committee
on
public
safety,
my
name
is
scott,
charles
and
I'm
the
trauma
outreach
coordinator
for
Temple
University
Hospital,
where
my
primary
role
involves
trying
to
reduce
the
number
of
firearm
injuries
that
we
treat
a
temple
specifically
as
well
as
the
injuries
that
are
treated
at
other
trauma.
Centers.
More
generally,
one
of
the
initiatives
that
I
oversee
at
Temple
is
the
cradle
to
grave
program,
which
is
educating
more
than
10,000
young
people
about
the
medical
and
emotional
realities
of
gun
violence.
J
Over
the
past
decade,
I
also
direct
a
program
called
fighting
chance
which,
unless
hospital
staff
to
teach
first
aid
to
residents
living
in
communities,
suffering
high
rates
of
fire
arm
injury.
Finally,
I
run
a
program
out
of
the
hospital
called
safe
bet
in
which
I
distribute
free
gun
locks
to
our
gunshot
patients,
many
of
whom
have
children,
grudges
and
guns,
but
unfortunately,
no
gun
locks.
Some
might
consider
it
odd
that
a
hospital
would
find
itself
in
the
business
of
distributing
gun
locks
when
you
think
about
it.
J
However,
it
shouldn't
really
come
as
that
big,
a
surprise.
Temple
University
Hospital
treats
more
gunshot
injuries
in
any
other
hospital
in
the
state
of
Pennsylvania
and
the
11
years
that
I've
worked
with
the
trauma
Department.
We
have
treated
more
than
5,000
patients
for
firearm
injuries
in
Philadelphia
firearm
injury
is
the
leading
cause
of
death
for
young
black
men
in
the
city
and
combined
gun
suicide
and
homicide
represent
the
leading
cause
of
death,
outpacing
even
motor
vehicle
accidents
for
all
Pennsylvania
juveniles
under
the
age
of
21
simply
put
juvenile
firearm
injuries
as
a
public
health
issue.
J
I
am
aware
that
some
might
take
exception
to
my
referring
to
fire
arm
injury
as
a
public
health
issue.
If
you
don't
mind,
I'd
like
you
to
take
you
back
to
October
sixteenth
2014,
when
dr.
herb,
Cushing
temple
university,
hospital's
chief
medical
officer
came
before
this
distinguished
group
to
discuss
the
significant
efforts
being
made
by
our
health
system,
as
well
as
those
being
made
by
the
city
state
and
federal
government
to
address
the
threat
posed
by
the
Ebola
virus.
At
the
time
there
were
only
three
known
cases
of
Ebola
on
canceled.
J
In
total,
there
have
only
been
four
diagnosed
cases
of
Ebola
in
the
US
and
no
one
person
has
both
contracted
and
died
of
the
virus.
Well
in
this
country.
Few,
however,
would
argue
that
Ebola
represents
a
legitimate
public
health
issue
and
today
those
four
cases
had
a
powerful
effect
on
public
health
policy
and
practice.
Now,
if
I
might
I'd
like
to
take
you
to
the
present
to
talk
about
why
it
is
that
we
see,
this
is
a
critical
issue
for
us.
Sandusky
Ohio
police
investigating
seven-year-old
shot
in
the
neck.
J
Cumberland
Indiana
nine-year-old
boy
dies
after
being
shot
in
the
head
near
Indianapolis,
Georgia
seven-year-old
boy
injured,
an
accidental
shooting
in
Northwest
Atlanta,
Roanoke,
Virginia
police,
say
one
child
playing
with
guns,
shot
and
killed.
Another
child
Marshall
County
Alabama
funeral
set
for
10
year
old,
killed
an
accidental
shooting
laplace's
IANA,
replace
mourns
the
loss
of
five-year-old
killed,
an
accidental
shooting,
Colorado,
Denver
three-year-old
wounded,
an
accidental
shooting.
What
I
just
read
she
does
not
represent
a
year's
worth
of
headlines.
Rather,
these
are
all
cases
of
unintentional
shootings
of
American
children.
J
That
happened
just
this
past
week,
closer
to
home
a
Philadelphia
second
grader
at
Grover
Cleveland.
Mastery
charter
last
week
made
national
news
when
he
brought
a
fully
loaded,
Glock
handgun
to
school.
In
the
tioga
section
of
the
city
the
week
before
that,
just
outside
the
city,
a
pen
wit
middle
school
student
was
arrested
after
it
was
discovered,
he
had
stashed
a
40
caliber
handgun
in
his
locker.
Fortunately,
neither
of
these
local
cases
ended
in
tragedy,
but
many
other
children
in
many
other
cases
are
not
so
lucky.
J
On
average,
a
child
unintentionally
shoots
him
or
herself
or
someone
else
in
their
home
or
vehicle
at
least
every
other
day
in
this
country.
In
fact,
this
year
alone,
nearly
a
hundred
children
have
been
involved
in
unintentional
shootings
as
a
result
of
having
gained
access
to
a
firearm
that
was
left,
unsecured
and
loaded.
J
Despite
the
constant
drumbeat
of
such
tragedies,
gun
owners
and
I
account
myself
among
them
continue
to
fail
to
take
the
steps
necessary
to
prevent
what
is
easily
one
of
the
most
preventable
forms
of
childhood
injury
that
exists.
One
common
assumption
among
gun,
owning
adults
is
that
their
children
are
unaware.
The
location
of
their
firearms,
and
even
if
they
did
know,
would
never
touch
them.
This
assumption
often
leads
to
reckless
firearm
storage
practices
that
can
have
lethal
consequences.
J
It
has
become
increasingly
evident
that
the
possibility
of
losing
a
child
alone
is
not
sufficient
motivation
for
some
gun
owners
to
properly
secure
their
weapons
as
a
result,
I
support
the
passage
of
child
excess
prevention
laws
such
as
this
and
those
that
have
proven
to
be
effective
in
reducing
accidental
shootings
of
children
and
by
as
much
as
twenty
three
percent
among
states
with
highest
levels
of
gun,
child
gun
deaths.
Seven
of
ten
do
not
have
child
access
prevention
laws
among
states
with
low
levels
of
child
gun
deaths.
J
Seven
of
ten
do
have
child
access
prevention
laws
as
a
health
professional
who
regularly
witnesses
the
devastating
effects
that
bullets
have
on
the
human
body
as
the
parent
of
a
children
who
live
near
and
attend
school
with
the
children
of
other
Philadelphia
gun
owners,
I
support
any
legislation
that
might
reduce
the
likelihood
of
farms
finding
their
way
into
the
hands
of
individuals
who
are
too
young
to
appreciate
the
consequences
of
their
actions.
I.
Thank
you
for
your
time
and
I'm
happy
to
answer
any
questions
that
you
might
have
so.
B
B
You
have
the
distinction
of
training,
more
combat,
ready
surgeons
because
of
your
location.
At
Temple,
you
have
initiated
a
program
where
people
that
are
witnesses
to
gun
violence
are
being
trained
on
how
to
do
triage
and
I
had
mixed
emotions.
When
I
saw
you
on
television,
saying
it's
a
good
thing,
but
Dad
gone.
How
did
we
get
here
right?
So
we
appreciate
that
the
other
thing
Temple
is
working
on
that
stuff
am
I
allowed
to
talk
about
the
study
you
talked
about.
I'm.
B
Sorry,
am
I
allowed
to
talk
about
the
study,
quite
sure,
okay,
so
you
also
are
looking
at
when
our
emergency
teams
arrive
on
the
scene,
whether
it
is
better
to
administer
on
a
ride
in
fluids
and
life,
supporting
techniques
or
to
just
quickly
deliver,
and
only
in
Philadelphia
or
big
cities
like
it.
Do
we
have
to
think
about
those
things,
and
our
reality
is
such
that
everything
that
this
panel
is
doing
from
you
to
cease
fire
is
like
so
important
to,
unfortunately,
the
day-to-day
life
of
being
in
a
big
city.
B
E
For,
regrettably,
for
better
or
worse
I've
been
involved
with
the
gun,
the
pro
gun,
legislation
or
sorry,
nada
legislation,
the
litigation
that
usually
comes
at
the
city
of
Philadelphia.
From
that
perspective,
I
have
a
unique
way
of
looking
at
what
there
I
can
see
what
the
issues
they're
going
to
have
with
this
bill.
The
issue
that
they
will
have
is
that
they
can't
this
is
going
to
prevent
them.
E
This
is
this
will
be
their
argument
that
this
prevents
the
individual
homeowner
from
getting
access
to
a
loaded,
firearm,
quick
enough
to
be
useful
enough
to
defend
himself
or
his
family,
because
you
are
requiring
a
unloaded
gun
to
be
steward
rather
than
just
defining
it
as
storing
a
firearm.
That
would
be
something
that
would
be
something
that
could
be
worked
out.
E
They
are.
They
will
agree
that
children
need
to
be
trained.
I
mean
we
train
people
how
to
be
safe
with
a
lot
of
different
things.
We
don't
we
do
nothing
to
teach
children
how
to
be
safe
with
fire.
Basically,
don't
touch
them,
but
if
you
do,
how
do
how
do
you
handle
them
and
that
kind
of
stuff
you
get
old
enough
to
be
an
older
child?
That's
kind
of
training
that
that
helps
reduce
some
of
these
type
of
issues.
I
can
just
say:
anecdotally.
I
grew
up
in
a
police
family.
E
We
had
guns
all
over
the
house.
My
father
was
old
highway
from
the
60s,
so
we
had
guns
on
every
floor
of
the
house,
but
I
was
also
taught
a
very
early
age.
How
to
safely
handle
every
gun
that
was
in
that
house,
and
so
it
was
not
a
mystery
to
me.
It
was
not,
as
you
know,
when
I
found
the
gun,
it
was
not
a
surprise.
I
got
father,
told
me
where
it
was
at.
That
goes
a
long
way,
but
that's
not
I
mean,
like
I,
said
that's
very
specific
to
law
enforcement,
but
I.
E
Think
the
issue
of
I
think
you
just
have
to
address
what
the
advocates
will
attack
in
this
and
that's
the
right
of
the
homeowner
to
defend
themselves.
So
I
do
believe.
There's
latitude
here
that
can
be
worked
with
and
I
think
it's
a
very
positive
step
in
the
right
direction
and
the
children
is
there's
like
I,
said
the
tragedy.
This
poor
doctor
sees
the
tragedies
that
my
officers
carry
in
and
seeing
baby
shot
is
just
a
horrible
sight
to
see
that
no
person
should
have
to
say,
or
a
parent
should
have
to
witness
I.
Think.
B
About
my
childhood
grew
up
with
a
kid
around
the
corner:
name:
cliffy,
I
won't
use
the
last
name
and
one
of
the
his
older
brothers
was
involved
with
a
burglary
up
at
the
Chuck
wagons
on
city
avenue.
You
too
young
to
know
where
that
was,
but
it
happened
and
it
was
a
relic
and
it
was
on
the
wall,
and
so
they
they.
They
wound
up.
Stealing
it
and
wound
up
in
a
basement
of
their
home
cliff.
He
was
about
maybe
10
or
12,
but
he
was
a
genius.
B
B
Think
common
sense
in
legislation
is
important.
You
have
to
wait
a
good
with
the
bad,
the
intended
and
the
unintended
consequences,
and
if
you
have
some
suggestions
by
way
of
what
we
can
do
to
strengthen
this
I
would
appreciate
it
before
we
final
passage.
But
we're
going
to
I'm
going
to
be
inclined
to
pass
it
out
of
committee
and
let
the
forces
of
Trump
come
whatever
they're
going
to
bring
all
right.
But.
A
A
E
We
can
do
to
prevent
children
mean
there's
nothing
that
should
stop
us
from
doing
anything
regardless
of
any
preemption
issues.
Earning
all
is
not
that's
not
a
reason
to
then
I.
Try
any
one
child
saved
from
this
is
is
is
great.
I
mean
I,
but
I
do
think
you'll
never
hear
about
the
ones
for
the
officer
where
the
kids
couldn't
get
all
a
gun
around.
So
I
don't
see
there
any
downside
to
actually
having
requiring
a
legitimate
gun
owner
to
lock
his
gun
up,
so
his
child
doesn't
get
them
or
another
child.
E
That's
the
important
thing,
too,
is
there's
a
lot
of
children.
It's
one
thing:
if
your
child
knows
what
to
do,
but
your
child
invite
other
people
into
your
house
when
a
gun
is
a
very
curious
object,
and
next
thing
you
know
the
neighbors
kids
want
to
see
what
it
is
and
a
lot
of
times.
After
that's
a
slippery
slope,
and
next
thing
you
know
one
child
shooting
another
accidentally,
so
I
do
believe
it's
a
good
good
idea.
This
is
a
very,
very
good
idea.
We.
I
Do
know
from
other
states
that
in
1997
a
study
of
the
12
states
it
had
had
such
a
law
for
a
year,
unintentional
firearm
deaths
for
kids
under
15
went
down.
Twenty-Three
percent
between
1990
and
1994
in
the
2004
study
found
that
those
kinds
of
laws
were
associated
with
an
eight
point.
Three
percent
decline
in
suicides-
kids
14
to
17,
so
those
are
a
little
bit
older.
But
the
studies
have
found
over
time
that
there
are
reductions
in
Butte
deaths,
I.
A
J
Yes
and
if
I
might
Detroit
is
currently
dealing
with
a
rash
of
pediatric
gun
injuries,
in
fact,
they're
now
looking
at
legislating
this
and
cracking
down
on
this
issue,
but
that's
as
a
result
of
nine
kids
being
shot
or
killed
over
the
last
sigh
think
14
months.
Detroit
didn't
have
a
problem
with
this
until
they
had
a
problem
with
this,
you
know.
If
we
went
back
at
16
months,
you
could
ask
that
same
question
in
Detroit
would
probably
say
this
really
isn't
that
great
a
deal
I'm.
J
You
know
to
this
gentleman's
point:
it's
not
really
just
about
lawful
gun
owners.
We
have
a
tremendous
issue
with
illegal
guns,
but
I
also
like
to
believe
that
when
inform
those
folks
who
might
have
illegal
guns
are
willing
once
they
have
the
information
to
take
the
necessary
precautions,
which
is
why
I
distribute
gun
locks
at
the
hospital
two
men
young
men
of
predominantly
who
might
otherwise
be
prohibited
from
owning
guns.
J
But
it's
no
questions
asked
I'm
not
a
law
enforcement
officer
sure,
but
I'm
interested
in
trying
to
preserve
the
lives
of
those
kids
that
live
in
the
house
with
those
guns
so
and
I
find
that
they
over
the
last
I
think
year,
I've
distributed
75
hand,
hand
gun
locks
to
individuals
who
worried
about
taking
them
initially
until
I
described
to
them.
How
common
it
is
for
young
kids
to
shoot
themselves
with
guns
that
are
unsecured.
Thank.
A
B
J
I
J
G
So
I
just
wanted
to
also
thank
you,
know
dr.
Charles
and
miss
Gedman
for
for
your
work
in
this
area
and
elevating
this
issue
fully
and
strongly
in
support
of
the
bill
and
also
captain
he'll
I.
Think
you
brought
up
a
great
point
that
you
know
within
trained
families.
You
know
it's
possible
to
teach
young
people
how
to
use
it.
G
Unfortunately,
Pennsylvania
is
a
state
that
refuses
to
enact
sensible,
gun
legislation
and
smart
policies
like
asking
people
to
before
they
buy
a
gun,
much
as
if
they
were
to
buy
a
car
or
drive
a
car
that
there
be
some
smart
legislation
about
demonstration
of
knowledge
about
how
to
use
it.
But
the
frank
matter
the
the
fact
of
the
matter
is,
is
that
anyone
can
buy
a
gun
and
they
don't
have
to
be
trained
to
use
it.
They
don't
have
to
have
any
responsibility
to
train
anybody
else
to
use
it.
G
They
can
keep
it
in
any
kind
of
situation
that
they
choose
to
see
fit,
and
the
lacs
and
latitude
pneus
of
the
law
gives
us
some
serious
responsibility
to
think
through
what
smart
legislation
looks
like
and
at
the
municipal
level.
I
think
it
makes
a
big
difference.
We
are
not
changing
the
way
people
acquire
guns.
We
are
changing
the
way
that
we're
taking
a
look
at
smart
legislation
that
that
looks
at
storage
within
a
home
to
protect
children
and
I.
Do
wish
that
our
state
would
an
act.
G
E
One
comment
on
it
as
to
the
training:
I
hardly
agree,
but
the
training
I
believe
that
should
be
mandated
is
my
own
personal
opinion.
Is
home
firearm
responsibility,
whether
or
not
you
can
hit
the
side
of
a
barn
shooting
the
gun.
I
could
really
care
less
about
I
care,
less
that
you
know
how
to
properly
secure,
not
shoot
yourself
your
family
or
make
sure
that
gun
doesn't
end
up
in
the
wrong
hands.
That's
a
home
firearm
responsibility,
which
I
think
is
exactly
on
point
with
what
you're
stating
safe
gun
legislation?
E
B
B
A
B
Has
been
moved
and
properly
seconded
bill
number
160
517
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation
and
further
move
that
the
rules
accounts
will
be
suspended
to
permit
first
reading
of
this
bill
at
our
next
session
or
council.
All
those
in
favor
will
say:
I
yeah,
all
those
opposed
the
eyes
have
it.
The
motion
carries
bill.
Number
160
517
will
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation,
with
a
request
that
the
rules
accounts
will
be
suspended
to
permit
first
reading
at
our
next
session
at
council.
The
chair
again
recognizes
councilman
Johnson.
A
D
B
Has
been
moved
and
properly
seconded
that
an
amendment
to
build
1603
through
one
be
approved,
all
those
in
favor
will
say:
aye
aye,
all
those
opposed
the
eyes
have
it,
and
the
motion
carries
an
amendment
to
feel
number-one.
6033
one
has
been
approved.
The
chair
again
recognizes
councilman
Johnson
for
emotional
on
amended
bill,
1603
31,
I,
move.
A
B
Been
moved
and
properly
seconded
that
bill
number
1,
603
31
as
amended,
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation
and
further
move
that
the
wolves
accounts
will
be
suspended.
Permit
first
reading
of
this
bill
at
our
next
session
of
council,
all
those
in
favor
will
say:
I
all
those
opposed
the
eyes
heavy
and
motion.
The
motion
carries
for
bill
number
1,
603
31,
as
amended,
be
reported
from
this
committee
with
a
favorable
recommendation
and
with
the
request
that
the
wolves
a
council
be
suspended
to
permit
first
reading
at
our
next
session
of
council.