Happy 4th of July— Let’s talk about the Second Amendment.
I’m not a huge fan of how open gun laws are. They are pretty lax in Pennsylvania, but localities don’t get to change any rules. I’ve used firearms, and had a good bit of practice growing up, so I want to be clear that I don’t speak from no experience or exposure. I do find myself to be a good shot when I take one, so here’s one into policy that I don’t think anyone was expecting, but I think has value.
After my mom’s town of Lewiston, Maine became the site of one of the worst mass shootings in 2023, I was afraid for her community and devastated. The shooting was so insane, some people thought it was a coordinated attack by multiple shooters, not one man like it was. I know how urgent it is that guns stay out of the wrong hands. But in Pennsylvania, the law is clear: under both the Constitution and Act 6120 of the PA Crimes Code, local governments cannot enact their own gun control laws. Not even under Home Rule; the law is CLEAR HERE.
So, what can we do?
Well, this thinking comes from some thoughts after a summer Uber driving in Philly. THAT WAS A WILD SUMMER, but anyway, I had four people, all black women, if you need to know—and two coming from gun trainings—tell me the same thing. Basically, they told me how important it was to them that they stay strapped in Philadelphia, and clearly they were also taking the steps to be prepared to use them responsibly. It was eye opening to have these conversations. I sometimes love Uber driving for this exact reason.
Anyway, the Second Amendment says:
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.”
I support our residents’ Second Amendment rights—the Black Panther Party did, they exercised their rights in efforts to monitor police brutality in their communities and demonstrated at the California Capitol. They were well educated, and well prepared on the law. The Mulford Act was put into law in 1967 in California as a response to their actions, and was supported by Ronald Reagan, AND the National Rifle Association. This is critical to understand. This gun control law was a response to legal Black action. There is a perception issue with gun ownership, and I’m not sure when we will get more serious about common sense reform, despite repeated real traumas, as opposed to a demonstration of rights.
So, while I know it is the opinion of many people to prevent guns from being in the community, we can’t. I’m not advocating lawlessness in these next statements—I’m advocating education and empowerment. I am advocating for people to understand responsible gun ownership, since neither the Mayor, nor Council, can enact gun control or reform via the law. We can’t just wait until something happens to discuss gun violence, as it normally goes; we need to try what we can.
Here’s what we can do—equip our community with knowledge. That’s why, as Mayor, I will direct and work with our police department to create programs which:
Offer gun safety, shooting practice, and gun maintenance for City residents;
Educate residents on safe storage, proper emergency preparation, and the laws on open vs. concealed carry;
Ensure residents understand their Federal and Pennsylvania constitutional rights—and their legal responsibilities—as firearm owners;
Understand who can, and cannot, own a firearm—and what circumstances may make gun ownership complicated for a household;
Understand the impacts of traveling with firearms, since not everywhere has the same rules.
These programs would be optional, not mandated. I would look at ways we can promote and encourage them for residents, because I think in addition to a Community Police Review Board which I’ve drafted legislation for, it helps add ways our residents and police can have interface and build trust with them. It helps create that two-way street of trust that police ask for. These programs could save lives, and I believe that our police would also feel more comfortable knowing they have educated people on this issue, as opposed to being completely disconnected.
I don’t love guns. Frankly, I hate loud bangs, including fireworks—but I’ve handled guns responsibly. As an Eagle Scout, I learned to shoot through the scouting programs I was a part of growing up. One time, I almost didn’t get the rifle merit badge because they thought I only hit the target twice with five rounds; you need five shots touched by a quarter. Turns out, I shot four bullets into, essentially, the same hole—a square-shaped tear that didn’t register at first because they thought I just was just that bad and missed the paper three times entirely. I hope to see Scouting come back with more fervor in our community, because I see it’s value not only on this issue, but the broader understandings of being a good citizen and prepared adult, especially now that it is not exclusive to boys, but rather all of our youth.
Look, again, we can’t legislate gun bans or controls on the local level. I feel we fail to have common sense gun reform here, and nationally, but that action is up to the State and Federal Legislatures. But local governments like ours are not powerless with the will to do better with what we can. We can be smart, practical, and proactive. I want Lancaster to be a strong, informed community—a place where gun owners are trained, and where no child finds a weapon loosely stored in a drawer.
And let’s be real: the Establishment talks about “waiting on the State” for rent control—but there’s no preemption there. Much like Earned Income Tax exemptions, I have a feeling we can expect some non-sense and flipping narrative like possibly about how we didn’t ask for rent control in the charter, so now we can’t do it. If that becomes the case, then fine, I’ll demand a rent control referendum. That’s not a change to government structure; that’s amending the charter, which we are allowed to do. We can act on rent control if we choose to fight, but I hope residents will not let the Establishment start to confuse them; I know it can be hard when communities like ours have been increasingly conditioned to trust Democrats blindly, even though our local leadership acts like a somewhat watered-down version of Washington, just with different proclivities on issues. They act like poor-little-babies as soon as the going gets tough and start pointing fingers up, up, and away—while punching and pushing down. Anyway… I’m the tough-get-going-type.
Unlike rent control, on guns, we can’t make our own laws—but we can demand accountability and respect for life through more education. Under the Peoples’ Administration, we will champion both police reform and public safety. We’re going to build trust, educate our people, and protect what matters most—each other.
Have a good day. Don’t drink and drive. Call for a ride. This day isn’t considered a day of freedom for all, and the fight for true freedom continues. Some days, I think we need the United States of America’s first Article V convention, but I don’t think we are prepared, yet.
