Shapiro on gun violence: 'It doesn't have to be this way'

Mar. 7—Following four shootings in four days on Philadelphia's mass transit system, Gov. Josh Shapiro called the level of violence "absolutely unacceptable" and urged the state Senate to act on proposed measures intended to reduce gun crimes.

"It doesn't have to be this way. Certain policymakers are accepting this as normal. I do not accept this as normal," Shapiro said during impassioned remarks given at West Chester University as he promoted a plan to improve higher education in the commonwealth.

"Those kids should have gotten home yesterday. They should not have been shot on the streets of Philadelphia. We do not need to accept this," Shapiro said.

Shapiro said he would not seek to deploy the Pennsylvania National Guard in Philadelphia to help stem violence as has been the case for the New York subway system.

The Associated Press reported that eight high school students were shot while waiting to board a city bus after school dismissed Wednesday. At least one was in critical condition.

Three masked gunmen jumped from a car and fired 30 shots at the teens before fleeing the scene, the AP reported. Two buses were struck by bullets and the incident occurred near an elementary school that was set to dismiss students.

Three people were killed in separate shootings on Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) properties over the prior three days.

In another incident that didn't occur at a transit property, an 88-year-old veteran was shot and killed while sitting inside his parked vehicle in West Philadelphia.

The Pennsylvania House passed two bills last May with narrow votes, though not wholly partisan, that propose to enact universal background checks, expanding existing provisions to cover firearms of any barrel length, and establish extreme risk protection orders where firearms are temporarily ordered to be surrendered by persons deemed an immediate risk of violence against others or suicide.

Neither bill has been brought forward for consideration in the state Senate. Both are assigned to the upper chamber's Judiciary Committee.

"Pass the damn bill and save lives," Shapiro said, specifically citing the universal background checks.

During his remarks Thursday, Shapiro said the current budget allows for the hiring of 400 new state troopers. He wants to do the same in his proposed budget for fiscal 2024-25. He's also seeking an additional $100 million for gun violence prevention programs that are community-based.

"It's not OK for them to do nothing. When they do nothing in the state Senate with a bill that would simply keep guns out of the hands of criminals and people who shouldn't have them, they are making a choice to accept this level of violence. That's not OK," Shapiro said.

Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman or a member of his staff could not be reached for comment.