PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh City Council members condemned the mass shooting that left 19 children and two teachers dead at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, during a council meeting Wednesday morning.
“This is horrific that our children are in danger,” said Pittsburgh City Council member Rev. Ricky Burgess.
“It’s been going on for too long,” said council member Bobby Wilson.
Burgess said that the nation has reached a tipping point in society and a ban on assault-style weapons should be considered immediately.
“We need to reduce the number of guns, we need to eliminate guns, we have to have universal background checks. All these things I have been advocating for,” Burgess said
Burgess says he’s now working with the mayor’s office to curb the violence on the streets and provide additional resources locally.
He says a full-scale plan should be revealed soon.
“It’s a coordinated, comprehensive approach that coordinates police with social services, with city revitalization efforts, all working together.”
In the meantime, gun rights groups say restricting and banning guns will only encourage more criminal behavior.
“You’re not going to make children safe by telling criminals that they’re violating another statute. They’re violating the homicide statute. If that’s not stopping them, some gun charges isn’t going to make a difference,” said James Stoker, Board of Directors member for Firearms Owners Against Crime Institute for Legal, Legislative and Educational Action.
Stoker says safety protocols should be overhauled in schools, teachers who feel comfortable should be trained in how to properly use firearms, and mental health inpatient services should play a critical role.
“We need to harden the schools. We need to make it a facility where if someone’s going to come in with evil intent, they have a chance to fight back,” said Stoker.
City council members told Channel 11 change needs to occur at the state and federal levels as well.
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey released the following statement on Tuesday’s mass shooting:
“Our hearts grieve for the families, friends, and classmates affected by today’s mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Our centers of learning should be safe places for all, yet the sanctity of our schools continue to be violated. All across our country, too many families are suffering from unimaginable and unnecessary grief. These victims — innocent children — deserved a full rich life, and they deserve more than our thoughts and our prayers. If we are ever going to heal from the trauma of gun violence in our country then we must take immediate action now to pass real, common-sense gun legislation.”
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