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Inquirer Editorial: Saloon fracas

What might have been a scene from a shoot-'em-up Western, filmed in a gritty neighborhood early Sunday, instead was a real-life repeat outbreak of gun violence in Philadelphia - a city awash in illegal weapons, with too many thugs callously willing to use them.

What might have been a scene from a shoot-'em-up Western, filmed in a gritty neighborhood early Sunday, instead was a real-life repeat outbreak of gun violence in Philadelphia - a city awash in illegal weapons, with too many thugs callously willing to use them.

Mayor Nutter was right to be outraged at the weekend shooting that left nine nightclub patrons wounded in Feltonville, in lower Northeast Philadelphia. The city averted a worse tragedy in that no one was killed.

It's going to take more than anger, of course, to reduce the likelihood of similar carnage.

The easy availability of handguns, legal or not, poses a serious challenge to public safety. That's why mayors, including Nutter, in dozens of communities across the state need to keep pushing for tighter controls on the purchase of handguns that end up being resold to criminals.

Harrisburg lawmakers should heed sensible calls for greater gun safety, even though it would mean ignoring marching orders from the National Rifle Association.

The Feltonville shooting also points out the need for communities to crack down on potential trouble spots for violence, such as nuisance bars and clubs. It's good to hear the mayor say that's where he'll focus the city's efforts as police seek the club gunmen.

While the shooting occurred outside, patrons of the quaintly named Felton Supper Club were targeted. The old movie theater has been a huge draw for clubbers, but police say it has a history of gun violence and city-code troubles that have led to it's being shuttered off and on.

When popular nightclubs that may represent a boon to the city's economy become crowd-control nightmares, it's incumbent on city officials to adopt a zero-tolerance attitude on safety violations. And while police cannot stand outside every hot spot, smart patrol strategies could help deter trouble at major nightspots.