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Hatboro Council will vote at its March 22 meeting on whether it will send a resolution to the Pennsylvania General Assembly in support of a statewide law that would require owners to report their lost or stolen handguns to the local police.
The resolution, prepared by council’s solicitor, reads that council has determined it is in the best interest of the borough for the General Assembly to enact statewide legislation requiring handgun owners to report their lost or stolen firearms within 72 hours after discovery or be subject to penalties.
A sentence will be added to the resolution that council supports the Second Amendment to address concerns of those who have contacted council about the legislation, a request by Councilman Bill Tompkins.
New York, New Jersey and Ohio have already enacted statewide lost or stolen legislation, Hatboro Mayor Norm Hawkes, a member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, said.
“So what we’re trying to do is add more states to it,” he added.
More than 20 municipalities in the state have supported the legislation either by enacting their own ordinances or sending resolutions to the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Councilwoman Nancy Guenst said she has been against this legislation from the start.
“I do not agree with it. I do not want to see it go ahead for a vote,” she said.
She said it is council’s job to work for Hatboro, not Harrisburg, which prompted cheers from a handful of residents.
Guenst and Councilwoman Aleta Ostrander expressed their opposition to the legislation.
Tompkins said he was looking for a reason to vote against it. If people report their handguns in the way stated, they are going to be in compliance, he said.
Councilman John Zygmont agreed with Tompkins, he said. In response to the concern the legislation could lead to more limiting laws for handgun owners, he said he was only looking to address the resolution before council.
A couple of residents opposed said the legislation is too ambiguous, it would target legal gun owners, and they didn’t see how it would benefit the citizens of Hatboro. Two said they would be in favor.
Executive Director of Ceasefire PA Joe Grace, who came to the meeting, said the legislation is not any attempt to criminalize law-abiding citizens.
Police Chief James Gardner said he supports the legislation on a state level because it would be more enforceable than on a local level.
As a lawful and responsible gun owner, a supporter of the Second Amendment and supporter of conceal and carry with a permit, he does not have a problem with this law, he said. As police chief, he wants to know if a handgun is lost or stolen in the community, he said.
