HARRISBURG, Pa. — Governor Wolf on Tuesday joined CeaseFirePA, gun violence survivors, trauma surgeons, and gun violence reduction advocates at the Capitol Rotunda to call for more commonsense gun laws, including universal background checks.

Governor Tom Wolf has frequently urged the legislature to pass commonsense gun safety laws, including universal background checks by eliminating the gun show loophole on private transactions for long guns.

“We must pass legislation that requires all those who wish to purchase a firearm to go through a State Police background check,” Governor Wolf said. “Universal background checks are one of the best ways we can keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous individuals. We put our communities at risk by allowing individuals to buy long guns, including AR-15s, through private transactions without a background check.”

“We have a lot of work left to do at the state and federal levels to address gun violence and keep people safe. But there is support from Republicans and Democrats for commonsense gun safety, including universal background checks,” Gov. Wolf said. “Earlier this year, I signed the first major gun safety bill in decades in Pennsylvania. Many of those here today championed this bill. It proved that commonsense gun safety reform can pass in Pennsylvania.”

CeaseFirePA organized the rally to remind returning Pennsylvania lawmakers that the organization is not satisfied with the lack of legislation to reduce gun violence and make our communities safer.

“We are calling on the legislature to build on the success of last year and take up and pass more bills that will keep guns away from those who should not have them and make PA safer,” said Shira Goodman, Executive Director CeaseFirePA. “We can’t afford to wait, and the people are counting on Harrisburg to act.”

In addition to Shira Goodman, speakers included Dr. Zoe Maher, a trauma surgeon from Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia; Dr. Raquel Forsythe, a trauma surgeon from the University of Pittsburgh; Diana and Charles Reynolds, who lost a child to gun violence; and Jo Schlesinger, whose ex-husband was injured in the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in October 2018.