Daily Item
April 3, 2024
As a member of the Lewisburg Chapter of Students Demand Action, I had a genuine moment of happiness when the Pennsylvania House narrowly passed HB 777, a “ghost gun” ban, and sent it on to the Senate. I was not surprised that my Representative for District 85, David Rowe, voted against it. David Rowe and many of his colleagues have never voted in favor of any common-sense gun laws. Not after Uvalde, Texas. Not after Sandy Hook. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m overjoyed that this bill was passed. Notice how this only got done when Democrats gained the majority in our state House. I fervently hope that our Senate will vote in favor of HB 777, despite never having supported safe gun legislation in the past. Personally, any time I’m in a classroom, the first thing I do is make sure I know how to get out. As a high school student, I know what ALICE is (Alert, Lockdown, Inform Counter, Evacuate), and I hope others do too.
I’m not old enough to vote yet, but I can still take meaningful action against gun violence, and I hope you will, too. May 7 is End Gun Violence: PA Advocacy Day in Harrisburg, and you can register to attend here: https://act.ceasefirepa.org/a/advocacyday24?ms=CFGS.
This is a chance to meet with your elected Representatives to discuss ending gun violence and passing common sense laws to protect all of us. If younger people aren’t in your family, do it for your neighbors’ kids. Do it for the children of Pennsylvania, who shouldn’t have to confuse fireworks with gunshots.
Gibson O’Mealy
Lewisburg