Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney sounded off on the access a suspected Philadelphia shooter, previously convicted on weapons and other charges, had to weapons used in a shoot out with local police at a Philadelphia home. Kenney cited risks to first responders as motivation for cities to seek to address gun control.
Our officers deserve to be protected and they don’t deserve to be shot at by a guy for hours with an unlimited supply of weapons and an unlimited supply of bullets. It’s disgusting and we have to do something about it,” Kenney told reporters, according to USA Today.
As previously reported, online court records indicate Maurice Hill, identified by his lawyer, had multiple arrests in Philadelphia and nearby Delaware County between 2001 and 2012. Those arrests led to convictions for perjury, fleeing and eluding, escape and weapons offenses.
Kenney not only named the federal government for being lax on gun law reform, but also the state of Pennsylvania. Like many states, it preempts local jurisdictions from regulating firearms. The mayor said he wants guns out of the hands of criminals, according to Heavy.com, and if states and the federal government won’t proceed with gun reform, then local governments should be allowed to do it.
If the state and federal government don’t want to stand up to the NRA, then let us police ourselves,” he said. “Our officers deserve to be protected,” said Kenney at a press conference.
