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First Posted: 4/7/2014 HARRISBURG &#8212; Four gubernatorial candidates showed overwhelming support for reform that would take aim at gun-related violence in a survey conducted by CeaseFire Pennsylvania.
An advocacy group for gun violence prevention, CeaseFire PA sent a questionnaire to each candidate to gauge his or her position on &#8220;commonsense gun violence prevention measures and the level of importance each candidate attributes to reducing gun violence.&#8221;
Democratic candidates Rob McCord, Katie McGinty, Allyson Schwartz and Tom Wolf all submitted responses, which were reflected in CeaseFire PA&#8217;s report.
Gov. Tom Corbett and Republican candidate Bob Guzzardi declined to respond to the survey.
&#8220;We are pleased that the candidates who responded all support crucial, commonsense gun violence prevention measures like expanding background checks and mandatory reporting of lost and stolen guns,&#8221; said Shira Goodman, executive director of CeaseFire PA. &#8220;Their views are shared by a large majority of Pennsylvanians.&#8221;
Phil Goldsmith, vice president of the organization, was also pleased with the responses from candidates. Instead of shying away from the issues like they have in the past, Goldsmith said the responses show a &#8220;willingness and appetite&#8221; to look at the issue of gun violence. He said the survey was done to educate citizens on the stances of candidates.
Survey contents
The survey found that the responding candidates supported most of the measures that were part of the questionnaire. Some of the key points in the questionnaire, including candidates&#8217; responses, were:
&#8226; Do you support or oppose legislation expanding the PA background check system to cover the private sale of long guns in the same manner as the private sale of handguns?
The four Democratic candidates supported the measure. Wolf said he supports the checks with the hope that they would keep guns out of the hands of criminals, while McCord said it would bring the state to a sense of uniformity.
&#8220;In order to ensure consistency and clarity in the law, I would support updating Pennsylvania law to be consistent with the federal law,&#8221; McCord said.
&#8226; Do you support or oppose requiring background checks for ammunition sales and prohibiting the sale of ammunition to individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms?
McGinty, Schwartz and Wolf each supported the measure. McCord, however, said he was concerned with potentially creating a black market for ammunition should such a system be in place. McCord also said he would like to evaluate the results of New York&#8217;s SAFE Act before looking at a background check system for ammunition in the state.
&#8226; Do you support or oppose the elimination of the Pennsylvania Instant Criminal Background Check System?
Each of the candidates opposed eliminating the state&#8217;s current background check system.
&#8226; Do you support or oppose strengthening the requirement that individuals who become prohibited by law from possessing firearms surrender their firearms?
McCord, McGinty and Wolf each supported strengthening the legislation. Wolf also supported the measure, and added that the state needs to &#8220;streamline and simplify our legislation&#8221; for a more uniform policy addressing the time period for surrendering firearms and the method of providing proof.
Candidates take a stance
Each candidate was asked to provide additional steps that he or she would take to reduce gun violence.
McCord said the best crime prevention is education and an improved economy.
&#8220;People who are employed and who are earning a decent, livable wage are less likely to resort to crime in order to sustain their livelihood,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Additionally, children who are better educated who can attain higher forms of education are less likely to be unemployed or to engage in criminal activity, which too often involves firearms.&#8221;
McGinty vowed to bring constituencies together to continue discussions on preventing gun violence that will &#8220;move us closer to solving these problems rather than just look to score political points.&#8221;
Schwartz said, if elected, she would enforce state laws to keep hands out of criminal and the mentally ill.
Wolf said that while he supports the Second Amendment, commonsense gun laws are needed to keep guns out of the hands of children and criminals.
&#8220;I believe gun violence is a complex issue and it will take a holistic approach &#8212; including improving our education system and social support programs &#8212; to make meaningful change,&#8221; he said.

Dem governor hopefuls state stances on guns