Police Shootings Won't Result in Law Changes

Gun control advocates say the shooting deaths of three Pittsburgh police officers are another sign Pennsylvania lawmakers need to pass measures to restrict firearms. But one State House Democrat says he doubts the legislation would ever pass.
In the wake of several police shootings in Philadelphia last year, Governor Rendell pushed for a series of gun control measures. The bills would have limited gun purchases to one a month, and required owners of stolen weapons to report the thefts to police, among other things.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Thomas Caltagirone, a Reading Democrat, led the efforts to pass the bills, but none became law. He says political realities will block any new gun control attempts this session.

"I'm just so depressed about people thinking we're trying to take their guns away from them. I don't know anybody that has ever proposed that. We're just trying to get some sense out of this chaos, and trying to stop these killings from taking place."

Caltagirone says gun control bills won't become law, because too many lawmakers from both parties are against them. He calls the Pittsburgh police shootings a tragedy, but doubts they'll change any minds at the Capitol.