Rep. Craig Williams has reintroduced legislation in Harrisburg that would grant the Pennsylvania Attorney General concurrent jurisdiction to prosecute prior-convicted felons found with guns in Philadelphia. This measure follows earlier efforts, including a bill passed by the House in 2022 with strong bipartisan support.
The proposed law aims to establish a Gun Violence Task Force (GVTF) that will coordinate enforcement between the Office of Attorney General, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, and other local and federal agencies. The task force’s structure was previously negotiated with key parties in 2022.
Williams highlighted the urgency of addressing gun violence: “Between 2018 and 2024, more than 12,000 people were shot in Philadelphia, with nearly 2,500 of those shootings proving fatal,” he said. He emphasized the need for a multi-agency task force to combat this issue effectively.
Data from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency underscores Philadelphia’s gun violence challenges, showing firearm assault rates significantly higher than state averages. Recent statistics from the Philadelphia Police Department indicate high numbers of aggravated assaults and robberies involving firearms over a three-month period.
Under Williams’ proposal, law enforcement must report every illegal gun-possession arrest of prior convicted felons to the GVTF. The task force will decide whether to assert jurisdiction based on case severity and criminal history. An annual report detailing GVTF operations will be required from the Attorney General.
“This legislation sends a clear message: We will not allow lawlessness to continue in Philadelphia,” Williams stated. He noted that violence impacts surrounding counties as well.
For further information, contact Will Patterson at wpatterson@pahousegop.com or call 267-688-2590.
