Title
Amending Chapter 10-800 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Safety," by adding a new Section 10-831, entitled "Straw and Multiple Handgun Purchase Reduction," to limit purchases of handguns by Philadelphia residents to one a month, and to prohibit "straw purchases" of handguns utilized by criminals for the purpose of evading the one handgun a month limitation; all under certain terms and conditions.
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Whereas, Law enforcement, public health and independent research data consistently finds illegal handgun trafficking ("straw purchases") to be one of the most prevalent and persistent root causes of handgun violence and crime that destroys lives and devastates communities in Philadelphia, around Pennsylvania and all over the United States; and
Whereas, Illegal handgun trafficking is characterized by criminals and illicit sellers employing non-felons to make multiple or bulk purchases of handguns so they then can market the wares on the streets at huge profits in virtually unlimited quantities to people who would otherwise be unable to obtain the weapons; and
Whereas, The Philadelphia Police Department is known to recover more than 5,000 stolen and illegal guns a year, over 1,200 Pennsylvanians and 2-300 Philadelphia citizens lose their lives each year to illegal handgun violence, and every two years, more Americans die or are seriously injured from handgun violence than in the Vietnam War; and
Whereas, According to the ATF, over 22% of guns used in crime nationally, and 51% of guns used in crime with eliminated serial numbers, come from multiple handgun sales; in addition, "straw purchases" account for 46% of guns used in crime; and
Whereas, Research by the Virginia State Crime Commission and the American Medical Association find handgun trafficking reduction laws to be effective in disrupting illegal sales and transfers, and Virginia, California, Maryland and South Carolina have all enacted such measures; and
Whereas, In the Philadelphia...
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