Gun-control measure derailed in House

HARRISBURG - A much-anticipated vote in the state House on a gun-control measure was derailed yesterday when Democratic leaders couldn't muster enough members to keep it on track.

The House was scheduled to resume debate yesterday on a proposal to require gun owners to report lost or stolen weapons.

But Democrats, who have a razor-thin (102-101) margin of control in the chamber, were forced to suspend the afternoon voting session when they realized they were four votes shy of the majority needed to control floor action.

"That's what happens when you are a one-vote majority," said Tom Andrews, spokesman for House Majority Leader Bill DeWeese (D., Greene). "We can't pass a bill without 102 votes."

Andrews said it was the second or third time since Democrats took control of the House in January 2007 that they have had to pull the plug on a voting session for lack of a majority.

This time it was not only about the handgun measure; there were economic-development bills on the calendar too, he said.

Some members were out of state or had previously scheduled commitments in their districts, said Johnna Pro, spokeswoman for House Appropriations Chairman Dwight Evans (D., Phila.).

She said the handgun measure, which faces stiff opposition, including from rural Democrats, would be taken up again on March 31, when the House returns from Easter recess.

With firearms crimes on the rise across the state, proponents say mandatory reporting requirements, backed by fines and jail time, would help police better trace weapons and curb so-called straw purchases.

Without a penalty for not reporting lost or stolen guns, supporters in law enforcement say, it's more difficult to trace weapons before they are used in crimes and there is no deterrent to legal purchasers who might sell or give weapons to felons who are not allowed to buy them.

John Hohenwarter, chief lobbyist for the National Rifle Association, which has opposed mandatory reporting requirements, said he would work with lawmakers on several alternative proposals.

"We'd like to look at another angle to go after these folks. We don't like their angle because it won't do any good," he said.

But handgun-control advocates say they will try to drum up more votes.

"It gives us two more weeks to fight for votes for commonsense handgun safety reform," said Joe Grace, executive director of CeaseFire PA. "But with every day of delay police don't have the means to track down illegal handguns."