Middletown Supervisors Pass On Moving Forward With Gun Resolution

The Middletown Board of Supervisors passed over the idea to prepare a resolution to call for some kind of “common sense” gun control measures Tuesday evening.

The topic of first creating a resolution that would advocate for gun control measures came up last fall and led to a lively public comment session in November. At the time, a group of Lower Bucks County residents came out to voice their displeasure with the looming resolution. If the resolution was created, it would lack teeth and would only let state and federal lawmakers know the Board of Supervisors’ opinion.

In the fall, the then-Republican-majority Board of Supervisors disagreed with idea to research a motion and it did not move forward.

With a Democratic-majority leading the township, the issue came up again Tuesday evening.

A group of gun owners opposed to such a resolution came to this week’s meeting to voice their concerns. A number of members from the Langhorne Rod and Gun Club filled the seats on the left side of the room.

“I could actually bring up another motion, and I do think that it would pass this time,” said supervisor Tom Tosti, who supported the original idea in October.

Tosti went on to argue that even if a resolution were passed, the state legislature would not act upon their urging and recommendation. Lower Makefield and New Hope have already passed similar resolutions to no avail, he added.

Tosti thinks it is time to focus on things the board can actually accomplish: being proactive and educating the community at large.

“I don’t agree with the weapons that are out there, but it has become a part of everyday life,” Tosti said.

The weapons, like those used in the Parkland, Florida, belong on battlefields and not in neighborhoods, the Democratic supervisor said.

Tosti has previously said he is not opposed to firearms, but believes there should be more regulation on ownership.

Middletown resident Jim Jenca got up to speak to the Board of Supervisors following Tosti’s comments.

“I strongly urge the board not to get involved in that,” Jenca said, referencing the essential lobbying that would occur if the original resolution was passed.

Affirming his support for education and awareness campaigns, Jenca said that he would see the  “lobbying” of the state legislature as a waste and abuse of tax dollars.

Frank Gallo, who told his personal story at November’s meeting, spoke to the Board of Supervisors regarding the need for background checks to be enforced in a strict manner. After all of the red flags the Parkland shooter exhibited, he should never have been able to purchase a weapon, Gallo argued.

“There are things that we can do, and we would all support that,” Gallo said to applause.

Middletown residents can receive gun locks from the police department, supervisors explained at the meeting.