Pittsburgh Mayor Signs Historic Gun Ban
NRA immediately helps Pittsburgh residents file first legal challenge
Surrounded by gun violence victims, including family members and friends of those killed on October 27 at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto today signed new firearms regulations approved last week by Pittsburgh City Council.
The National Rifle Association immediately helped a group of Pittsburgh residents file a lawsuit against the city. While Pittsburgh's new laws ban assault-style weapons and authorize court seizures of guns under so-called "red flag" rules, this lawsuit specifically targets the ordinance that limits the size of magazines to 10 rounds or less. "Restricting law-abiding citizens from exercising their constitutional rights will do nothing to stop violent criminals," said the NRA's Chris W. Cox.
Victims of gun violence, including those connected to the Tree of Life massacre, looked on.
City of Pittsburgh Twitter page
The new ordinances are expected to face additional court challenges, since in Pennsylvania, only the state has the power to regulate firearms. If Washington and Harrisburg refuse to recognize this is a public health emergency, and refuse to stand up to gun manufacturers, then we must take action to challenge laws and protect our people, the Mayor said.
This is an historic day for Pittsburgh. -- Councilman Corey O'Connor, bill co-sponsor
The mayor's bill-signing comes less than 24 hours before a new state law goes into effect that takes guns away from abusers in domestic violence cases (click here to read our story). Last weekend the city hosted students and family members of those killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., to push for stronger gun regulations nationwide (click here for more).
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