Demonstrators to urge Murt to support gun bill [Updated]

HATBORO - Gun safety advocates are planning a demonstration Wednesday to urge State Rep. Thomas Murt to sign onto legislation requiring background checks for all sales of rifles, shotguns and assault weapons.

House Bill 1010 would require background checks for private sales of long-barrel guns. Such checks are already required when purchasing a long gun from a licensed dealer and when purchasing a handgun from a commercial or private seller.

Murt, a Republican whose district includes Hatboro, Willow Grove, and Huntingdon Valley, said he "absolutely" intends to vote for the bill.

"Every time a gun changes hands, there should be a background check. We don't want any weapon - whether it's a handgun or a long gun - to get into the hands of someone who shouldn't have it," Murt said.

Some activists want him to go a step further and sign on as a cosponsor. The bill already has at least 45 Democratic and five Republican cosponsors, said CeaseFirePA director Shira Goodman.

"We need more. There's a lot of people saying they'll vote for it if it comes to the floor," she said. "But we need overwhelming support to show the people want this, just to get it to a vote."

The bill has been stalled before the House Judiciary Committee since March.

[Updated, Wednesday 10:30 a.m.:  CeaseFirePA announced Wednesday morning that they had postponed the demonstration, saying Murt had agreed to meet with them and discuss whether to cosponsor the bill.]

- Jessica Parks