Two Lower Bucks County state representatives are introducing legislation to create a new mandatory minimum sentence for defendants who were for previously convicted and found to be illegal possession of a gun.
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GOP State representatives Frank Farry, of Langhorne Borough, and K.C. Tomlinson, of Bensalem Township, made their announcement during a press conference last week outside the Bensalem Township Building. They were joined by Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub, Bensalem Township Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo, Bensalem Township Director of Public Safety Bill McVey, and other Bucks County law enforcement officials.
According to the lawmakers, H.B. 2819 was created to put in place a new mandatory minimum sentence for those previously convicted of a felony and found illegally in possession of a firearm. A first-time offender would receive a mandatory minimum jail sentence of eleven months. The mandatory minimum jail sentence would increase significantly with each following offense.
“This legislation will send a message across the Commonwealth that felons who possess firearms will not walk away unpunished,” Farry said. “And we don’t just need to take that firearm out of the felon’s hands. We need to take the felon off the street.”
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Farry, who is running for state senate, said the bill comes amid an uptick in gun crimes in nearby Philadelphia.
“Dangerous criminals are often crossing into our communities and illegally possessing firearms without regard for punishment. Quite often we hear the comment that the criminal should have never been on the street, but what we don’t often hear is they should have never had a firearm,” he said.
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Tomlinson, whose father is outgoing State Sen. Tommy Tomlinson, noted Bensalem Township’s position bordering Philadelphia.
“We border Philadelphia and are centrally located around all the major cities of the Northeast United States. We also have multiple major access points, including the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-95, Route 1 and Route 13, that filter all types of criminals into our county,” she said. “Stronger sentencing will better protect our families and businesses.”
Bucks County has not seen the same rise in shootings that Philadelphia has, but gun offenses are somewhat common across the county.
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