Group Pushes for Tougher Gun Laws
November 19, 2009 More than 50 rabbis from across the state, representing the entire denominational spectrum of Judaism, have signed on to an interfaith initiative to reduce gun violence in the Keystone state.
The effort is spearheaded by CeaseFirePA, a Philadelphia-based group working to enact stricter gun laws. The group's faith-based outreach coordinator, Burt Siegel, noted that about 200 clergy members -- including rabbis and chazzans from Philly to Altoona to Pittsburgh -- have joined the movement, and that just over half of the Jewish leaders are from the Philadelphia area.
Siegel is the former director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia's Jewish Community Relations Council. JCRC has long been a supporter of the coalition, both under Siegel's leadership and now under his successor Adam Kessler.
Much of CeaseFirePA's efforts are focused on curbing "straw sales" to felons and enacting more stringent requirements for reporting lost or stolen handguns. The campaign seeks to gather enough leaders to force the legislature to move on this issue.
As part of its push, CeaseFirePA has also partnered with mayors from upwards of 150 towns, and police chiefs and law enforcement officers from more than 100 communities across the state.
