Crowd on Centre Square Calls for Stronger Gun Laws

By Christina Georgiou

Today was "National Day to Demand Action", and Easton's Centre Square was one of about 100 locations around the country where elected officials and citizens gathered to demand federal officials strengthen gun laws, simultaneously as President Barack Obama also called upon Congress to vote in favor of tighter measures, to help prevent future firearms deaths and mass shootings like the massacre that took place last December at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT.

"Violence in our country is unacceptable, and we must act now," said Gloria McVeigh, of the Hellertown/Lower Saucon Obama Volunteers.

That group, along with Lehigh Valley members of Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG), whose membership includes Easton Mayor Sal Panto, Wilson Borough Mayor David Perruso, along with a number of other mayors in the region, organized the press conference and rally, which drew a crowd of about 50 people to the square.


Gloria McVeigh, of the Hellertown/Lower
Saucon Obama Volunteers.

McVeigh praised President Barack Obama for signing an executive endorsement calling for tighter federal gun laws, adding, "None of the executive orders infringe on law abiding citizens' rights to own guns."

Panto, who is not only a member of of MAIG, but was recently featured in a television ad for the group, said he supports the rights of law-abiding citizens to own firearms and noted that he is a gun owner.

"I've made it clear it's about illegal guns," Panto said. "The fact is, we're not about reducing gun ownership for law-abiding citizens."

But loopholes in purchasing laws and a lack of consequences for straw purchases need to be rectified, he said.

"Last year, 6.6 million guns were sold without a background check," Panto said. "Eighty percent of criminals surveyed got their guns illegally. We're asking for the only way we know to stop criminals and domestic abusers. We're asking for commonsense legislation."

Panto said the consequences for buying a gun for someone who can't pass a background check need to be ramped up and federally enforced, as well.

"The law is the same for gun trafficking as for selling illegal live stock. Imagine a cluck-cluck versus a bang-bang," the mayor said. "That straw purchaser needs to be held accountable. When you realize your gun is stolen or lost, you need to report it. That's all we're asking for."

Like MAIG, Panto also supports limiting high-capacity ammunition clips and automatic weapons.
"Tell me why anone needs a clip that's more than 10 rounds," he said. "I don't know the last time someone shot a Bambi with an automatic weapon."

Panto said stronger state and federal laws need to be passed, as municipalities aren't allowed to enact ordinances that effect such changes.

"We don't have the ability to pass a stolen gun law (at the city level)," he said. "We're  asking Congress and the federal government to act. We're here today to demand they take the vote.

"Call your senator. Call your Congressman," Panto urged the crowd. "This is an affluent issue, not just a city issue."


Wilson Borough Mayor David Perruso, center, sits with
Northampton Borough Mayor Tom Rhinehart while
elected officials from Easton and other Lehigh
Valley municipalities speak to the crowd. Left, former
Forks Township Supervisor C. David Howell holds
a "Demand Action" sign in support of stricter gun
laws.

Easton Vice Mayor Ken Brown also urged action towards tighter gun controls.

"We're tired of picking up the paper and finding out another life has been taken by gun violence," he said. "We together are one voice. Thank you for coming out today and speaking with one voice."

Easton Area School Board member Frank Pintabone also supports new legislation, he said.

"It's not about eliminating rights, but expanding responsibility," Pintabone said. "It is our responsibility...to protect each other."

J. William Reynolds, a Bethlehem councilman currently running for mayor in the neighboring city, said, "It's not about taking away gun rights, it's about common sense."

"None of us are here for the photo op. We do this because we feel strongly about it, and we want to protect our young children," said Fountain Hill Borough Mayor Jose Rosado, adding that he promised to protect gun ownership rights. "We have to realize and limit the risk of gun violence to our children. If we don't take action to enact appropriate gun laws, it's not a question of if but when. We're saying it's time to enact responsible gun laws."

The speakers urged the gathered crowd, a number of whom had brought their children to the event, to reach out to elected officials in Washington DC to make their opinions known.

"All of you could speak from the heart about gun violence since those horrible images from Connecticut," McVeigh said, as volunteers passed out petitions for crowd members to circulate in their communities.

The petitions need to be returned to the Hellertown/Lower Saucon Obama Volunteers and/or MAIG by April 4, so they can be sent to Senate members before expected votes on gun reform measures soon after Congress returns from its Easter break on April 8.

"Don't be afraid to call that elite 100," Panto added. "They still answer to you every six Novembers."



Kristen Bruck, of Coopersburg, prepares to talk with
a TV news crew after the rally. She attended with her
children, Dana, 4, and Drew, 8.

More about Mayors Against Illegal Guns can be found on the group's website, www.mayorsagainstillegalguns.org

More about the MAIG campaign, Demand Action to End Gun Violence, is at www.demandaction.org

A TV ad in which mayor members of MAIG, including Easton Mayor Sal Panto and Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski, call upon state officials in key states to support new federal legislation intended to help curb illegal gun ownership, is here.