Washington, D.C. — Pennsylvania’s violence problem is increasingly a gun violence problem. While homicides in the state have decreased over the past decade, the share of homicides committed with a gun has increased by 13 percent and the share of aggravated assaults committed with a firearm has grown by a stunning 27 percent. A new fact sheet released today by the Center for American Progress Action Fund highlights how MAGA Republicans have made this problem worse by repeatedly blocking commonsense gun safety measures and continuing to push extreme policies that would only make communities less safe. Candidates such as Mehmet Oz and Doug Mastriano have indicated they would further weaken gun laws if elected as senator and governor, respectively, which would undoubtedly drive an even more devastating spike in gun crime.
“MAGA Republicans such as Mehmet Oz and Doug Mastriano claim they will keep Pennsylvanians safe, but the data—and their campaign contributions—tell a different story,” said Jerry Parshall, senior director of CAP Action’s Safety and Justice Campaign. “As U.S. senator and governor, their policies would lead to more guns in the hands of people who commit crimes, more illegal gun sales, and a surge in gun crime.”
Specifically, the fact sheet highlights:
- In 2021, Philadelphia issued 52,230 new gun permits, a stunning 600 percent increase over the previous year as the city’s shootings climbed to record levels.
- If elected, Mastriano has promised to legalize permitless carry—a radical law found to increase violent crime by 13 percent to 15 percent and gun homicides by 29 percent.
- Oz has ridiculed extreme risk protection order laws as “illegal gun grabs,” despite the policy’s widespread support from law enforcement and its proven success in reducing firearm deaths.
- Pennsylvania Republicans have accepted more than $268,000 in political contributions from the National Rifle Association since 2017.
Click here to read: “Fact Sheet: Dangerous Gun Laws in Pennsylvania” by CAP Action
For additional state fact sheets, see “Dangerous Guns Laws Increase Violent Crime: A State-By-State Analysis”
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Colin Seeberger at [email protected].