HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Whether it's Umpqua Community College, Sandy Hook Elementary, or a church in Charleston, many of the mass shooting tragedies have the same common theme: the shooter, often times, had undiagnosed, unknown, or mistreated mental health issues. Some Pennsylvania legislators recognize the dangerous connection between mental illness and guns, and are trying to close loopholes which exist in state laws.
Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Montgomery) is currently working to gain support for a bill which would widen the mental illness umbrella when it comes to purchasing firearms. House Bill 1030, she says, would allow friends or family to petition a judge to take guns away from someone who isn't diagnosed with a mental illness but is "clearly in extraordinary and dangerous distress."
Mental health patients are unable to buy guns in Pennsylvania. Rep. Dean's bill, she says, could stop tragedies before they start.
"If we can`t get the message in society that it`s time to reduce the slaughter, then I don`t know what we`re here for," Rep. Dean said.
She maintains her legislation, currently waiting to be heard in the House Judiciary Committee of which she is a member, is not intended to take guns away from hunters, legal gun owners, or NRA members.
"They think I'm interested in controlling their legal use of guns. I have no interest in that whatsoever," she said. "What I want to do is reduce the carnage."
Perhaps no state lawmaker has more experience curbing gun violence than Rep. Todd Stephens (R-Montgomery). House Bill 1498, referred to the House Judiciary Committee in August, would ensure Pennsylvania State Police send all mental health data from individuals to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Similar legislation was passed in a previous session, but was struck down as illegal in Commonwealth Court. Stephens says HB1498 would prevent those with mental health issues from purchasing firearms out of state.
"I know who the people are committing these gun crimes," says Stephens, who previously worked as a firearms prosecutor in the Montgomery County District Attorney's office. That would explain his other gun-related legislation: House Bill 1496 and 1497 would increase penalties for illegal gun carriers.
"Drug dealers, people who are out there using guns inappropriately, and in most cases already are prohibited from having them.... Those are the folks we have to worry about," Stephens said.
However, there is legislation, both proposed and already circulating through a committee, which would increase the access to guns, including those in schools.
Senate Bill 416, sponsored by State Sen. Donald White (R-Armstrong, Indiana), would give school boards the authority to allow certain school employees to carry firearms on school property. Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion) has proposed similar legislation in the State House, although it has yet to be referred to a committee.
"I believe we need to consider providing school employees with more choices than just locking a door, hiding in a closet or diving in front of bullets to protect students," Sen. White wrote in his legislation proposal. "With the legal authority, licensing and proper training, I believe allowing school administrators, teachers or other staff to carry firearms on the school premises is an option worth exploring."
Sen. White was unavailable to interview on Tuesday and Rep. Oberlander declined comment.
Sen. White's bill, which was referred to the Senate Education Committee in February but has not had a hearing since, is co-sponsored by nine other senators.