Mass shootings in America are now at the crisis stage. There have been 154 mass shootings in the U.S. in 2018 alone. A recent report showed that 7,000 people in 2018 were killed due to gun violence, and 13,300 were injured. It doesn’t matter whether your views are conservative or progressive regarding gun laws –
you have to agree that in order to end this epidemic, many safety improvements have to be made.
There are several issues of our current day that fuel gun violence; we can’t simply blame film and television for them. These issues include the lack of safety training regarding firearms; the way many young people obsess over technology and social media; and, perhaps the biggest issue of them all, the way our society generalizes mental illness.
It’s fair to say that “mentally ill”
is a very broad term. There are several different kinds of mental illness, and it’s most likely that you, or someone you know, have struggled with mental illness at some point. Unfortunately, until the taboo surrounding mental illness is broken, we must be overly cautious of our surroundings; we must know our gun laws, and we must be open minded when it comes to making stricter gun laws.
Many people in Pennsylvania would agree that stricter gun laws are needed. Surprisingly,
Pennsylvania is already one of the most stringent states when it comes to these laws.
In Pennsylvania, a person can openly carry a firearm without a license. For example, a firearm can be carried in a holster, openly visible to anyone, without any licensing requirements. However, in order to carry a concealed firearm, a person must have a License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) permit. They must also be 21 years of age in order to apply. Once you’ve obtained a LTCF from your local Sheriff’s Office, you are permitted to carry a firearm concealed. Although uncommon, there are certain reasons why one might become disqualified from having a LTCF. For instance, conviction of a crime for which
the punishment could exceeds (1) year imprisonment (in Pennsylvania, a crime classified as a Misdemeanor of the Second Degree, or higher), or a dishonorable discharge from one of the uniformed services, would disqualify a license holder. Other examples of disqualifying factors are as follows:
- A person under 18 years of age;
- A
person that has been diagnosed addicted to drugs or illegal substances;
- A person convicted of three different DUI charges in a five- year period of time;
- A person currently subject to a Protection From Abuse (PFA) Order;
- An
undocumented immigrant;
- A person convicted of a violent crime/misdemeanor of domestic violence; and/or
- A person declared mentally ill by a Court of Law.
The sad truth is, almost everyone can go online and apply to carry a concealed gun. Long story short, The United States Government has to
crack down on gun laws. Until they do, we hope you are cautious when using guns and are sensitive to the gun crisis in the United States.
Below are some tips on how we can protect ourselves and loved ones:
- Monitor yours and your loved ones’ social media accounts;
- Report any threats you hear or see regarding any kind of violence;
- Report any videos you see
promoting violence on social media ASAP: DO NOT hesitate, as it’s better to be safe than sorry;
- Seek help if you own a gun and are thinking of harming yourself or others;
- If you own a firearm, always store it in a safe place; and
- If you are permitting a child or family member to handle a firearm, ensure that he or she has the proper training and supervision and
understands the danger and responsibly of handling a dangerous weapon.
We hope you found this article helpful. If you have questions and need assistance please call our law firm. If you are feeling that you may be in danger, call 911 immediately. If you feel that you may be a danger to yourself or someone else, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255.
