Crime’s on the minds
of local lawmakers

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Now that the budget process is over and the legislature’s summer break is nearing an end, a few local lawmakers want to turn the attention to crime.
"As violent crime continues to rise, we must take serious steps to provide law enforcement with the necessary resources and legal tools to fight back and protect our communities," said state Rep. John Perzel (R-172nd dist.).
Last week, Perzel welcomed the news media to his Frankford Avenue district office to push for the consideration of six bills that are in the House Judiciary Committee. He was joined by Reps. George Kenney (R-170th dist.) and John Taylor (R-177th dist.).
The centerpiece of the package is legislation sponsored by Perzel that would add 10,000 police officers across the state by 2011. Philadelphia would get about 1,300 new officers.
"There is no better way to combat crime than to have a fully staffed police force," Perzel said.
Another major piece of the package is the so-called Parolee Search and Seizure bill, introduced by Rep. Bill Keller, a South Philadelphia Democrat. It would require all inmates who committed violent or fire-related crimes and are eligible for release on parole to sign waivers as a condition of their release subjecting them to search and seizure by a police officer at any time, with or without a search warrant or cause.
There are some 8,800 parolees in Philadelphia, and it is estimated that more than 80 percent of all criminal activity is committed by someone with a record.
"Requiring that parolees will be subject to stop and search at any time will act as a serious deterrent," Perzel said.
Kenney is sponsoring a bill that would fund the movement of local gun crime cases into the federal court system, where the sentences are usually stiffer than in local courts.
Anyone convicted of brandishing an illegal firearm would be sentenced to seven years in prison, or 10 years if the weapon is discharged. The penalties would increase for second offenses or for anyone with previous violent felony or serious drug convictions.
"You want those gun crimes taken to federal court," Kenney said.
Taylor has introduced a bill that would create the Illegal Firearm Task Force within the state attorney general’s office. The program would provide grants and resources to help local law enforcement and prosecutors investigate the theft of firearms and the possession and transfer of illegal firearms.
Rep. Scott Petri, a Bucks County Republican, is sponsoring two bills. One would impose a mandatory seven-year sentence if a firearm is obtained or discharged illegally. The other would impose a mandatory five-year prison sentence on gun shop owners who intentionally sell a firearm to a criminal or other prohibited person and permanently revoke their license to sell.
The local Republican lawmakers believe their legislative package is common sense and should pass.
"These bills are important," Taylor said. "These are all practical bills."
The House of Representatives returns to session on Sept. 17. The Republicans hope the news media pressure lawmakers to consider and pass the legislation.
One bill that won’t be part of the Perzel-led package would limit gun purchases to one per month. Perzel said the conservative legislature would never pass such a measure.
The package could face an uphill fight because Democrats control the House, 102-101. Perzel served as speaker before Republicans lost the majority in the 2006 elections.
Still, Perzel has reason to be optimistic. The Judiciary Committee is chaired by Rep. Tom Caltagirone, of Reading, who was one of three Democrats who voted to keep Perzel as speaker. Perzel lost the post when a half-dozen GOP members joined most Democrats to elect Rep. Dennis O'Brien (R-169th dist.), a Perzel enemy, as speaker.
The local Republicans are acting primarily because of the rising violent crime in Philadelphia.
"There are too many people being killed," Perzel said.
At the same time, the Republicans think there is broad support for the package. They note that crime is affecting other parts of the state. In Reading, the murder rate is more than twice the national average. In Harrisburg, robbery is more than three times the national rate. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com