DN Editorial: Harrisburg misses easy shot

LESS THAN a month ago,

Marqus Hill was arrested in the slaying of Irving Santana, allegedly shooting him 13 times. Hill's Philadelphia gun permit had been revoked five years ago, but he easily got a permit from Florida, thanks to a frightening loophole that Pennsylvania lawmakers just had the chance to close, but failed.

The so-called Florida loophole - which allows someone whose application has been rejected in Pennsylvania to go online and apply for a permit from a state with fewer restrictions - puts the fate of the city's citizens at the mercy of the Florida Department of Agriculture, which issues the permits, instead of the Philadelphia Police Department.

Florida has issued about 3,100 concealed/carry permits to Pennsylvania residents, according to CeaseFire, a nonprofit agency whose aim is to reduce gun violence and which has been fighting the loophole.

Yesterday, Republicans in the state House - aided by a number of

conservative Democrats- blocked an amendment offered by Rep. Bryan Lentz, of Delaware County, that would have closed the loophole. In fact, debate wasn't even allowed on the measure.

That's outrageous, especially since the amendment was offered to a bill that expanded the rights of property owners to use deadly force to defend themselves inside their homes if they cannot escape another way. That protection now includes other settings, including garages, driveways and cars.

Why wouldn't lawmakers in Harrisburg want to take action to close the loophole? The simple answer is politics. As we approach Election Day, elected officials want to avoid challenging powerful interests like the National Rifle Association, which opposes almost all restrictions and has lobbied hard against closing the Florida loophole.

Enough is enough. How many more people have to be killed before lawmakers buck the NRA and move to keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them? *