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Swann says he doesn't support strengthening gun laws
The Republican gubernatorial candidate tells an audience at the Reading Fair he'll meet with police and state Attorney General Tom Corbett to devise a crime-fighting plan if he is elected.
By Kori Walter
Reading Eagle
Visiting Berks County after a weekend of deadly gun violence, Republican candidate for governor Lynn Swann said Monday that he does not support strengthening the state's gun-control laws.
“A lot of people tend to believe that the gun laws need to be changed,” Swann said while campaigning at the Reading Fair in Bern Township. “My opinion as someone who believes in the right to carry guns is that it's not the gun that kills. It's what was in the mindset of the young person that they would do that.”
Swann was referring to the death of Reading Police Officer Scott A. Wertz, 40, early Sunday morning. Cletus C. Rivera, 24, Reading, was charged Monday with Wertz's murder.
Investigators said Wertz of Spring Township was shot twice in the chest less than 100 yards from City Hall just before 2 a.m. Sunday.
Swann, a wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the late 1970s and early 1980s, is challenging Democratic incumbent Ed Rendell.
If Swann becomes governor, he said he will meet with police and state Attorney General Tom Corbett to come up with a crime-fighting plan.
Swann said his campaign platform does not include specific anti-crime proposals.
“I think it's a mistake for anyone to sit down, go into an office by themselves and come out with a plan without talking to policemen, policewomen,” Swann said.
“I don't believe that you can just legislate and have crime be gone,” Swann added. “If that were the case, it would have been done a long time ago.”
Contacted after the Swann visit, Dan Fee, a spokesman for Rendell's campaign, said the governor backs legislation that would limit gun purchases to one per month. Pennsylvania currently allows unlimited gun purchases.
Fee said limiting gun purchases would reduce gun trafficking.
The governor also has included funding in the state budget for anti-crime initiatives, such as hiring more state troopers, Fee said.
The Republican-controlled state Legislature has been reluctant to pass any gun-control laws because of the high number of hunters in the state.
In addition to Wertz's murder, Jose Luis Miranda was shot and killed just before 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
Miranda, 25, of 533 S. 16th St. was shot once in the chest on the Neversink Playground at 15th and Fairview streets, police said.
Miranda ran from the playground and collapsed on the front porch next to the residence of City Councilwoman Marcia Goodman-Hinner****z in the 500 block of South 15th St.
Gun-related murders decreased slightly statewide through 2004, which was the latest year for which figures were available.
Statewide crime reports showed that the number of homicides committed with a firearm dipped to 464 in 2004 compared with 478 in 2001 or a 2.9 percent drop.
Homicides committed with a handgun also decreased, to 364 in 2004 from 422 in 2001 or a 13.7 percent drop.
Swann says he doesn't support strengthening gun laws
The Republican gubernatorial candidate tells an audience at the Reading Fair he'll meet with police and state Attorney General Tom Corbett to devise a crime-fighting plan if he is elected.
By Kori Walter
Reading Eagle
Visiting Berks County after a weekend of deadly gun violence, Republican candidate for governor Lynn Swann said Monday that he does not support strengthening the state's gun-control laws.
“A lot of people tend to believe that the gun laws need to be changed,” Swann said while campaigning at the Reading Fair in Bern Township. “My opinion as someone who believes in the right to carry guns is that it's not the gun that kills. It's what was in the mindset of the young person that they would do that.”
Swann was referring to the death of Reading Police Officer Scott A. Wertz, 40, early Sunday morning. Cletus C. Rivera, 24, Reading, was charged Monday with Wertz's murder.
Investigators said Wertz of Spring Township was shot twice in the chest less than 100 yards from City Hall just before 2 a.m. Sunday.
Swann, a wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the late 1970s and early 1980s, is challenging Democratic incumbent Ed Rendell.
If Swann becomes governor, he said he will meet with police and state Attorney General Tom Corbett to come up with a crime-fighting plan.
Swann said his campaign platform does not include specific anti-crime proposals.
“I think it's a mistake for anyone to sit down, go into an office by themselves and come out with a plan without talking to policemen, policewomen,” Swann said.
“I don't believe that you can just legislate and have crime be gone,” Swann added. “If that were the case, it would have been done a long time ago.”
Contacted after the Swann visit, Dan Fee, a spokesman for Rendell's campaign, said the governor backs legislation that would limit gun purchases to one per month. Pennsylvania currently allows unlimited gun purchases.
Fee said limiting gun purchases would reduce gun trafficking.
The governor also has included funding in the state budget for anti-crime initiatives, such as hiring more state troopers, Fee said.
The Republican-controlled state Legislature has been reluctant to pass any gun-control laws because of the high number of hunters in the state.
In addition to Wertz's murder, Jose Luis Miranda was shot and killed just before 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
Miranda, 25, of 533 S. 16th St. was shot once in the chest on the Neversink Playground at 15th and Fairview streets, police said.
Miranda ran from the playground and collapsed on the front porch next to the residence of City Councilwoman Marcia Goodman-Hinner****z in the 500 block of South 15th St.
Gun-related murders decreased slightly statewide through 2004, which was the latest year for which figures were available.
Statewide crime reports showed that the number of homicides committed with a firearm dipped to 464 in 2004 compared with 478 in 2001 or a 2.9 percent drop.
Homicides committed with a handgun also decreased, to 364 in 2004 from 422 in 2001 or a 13.7 percent drop.
