Gun Rally Postponed

A few hours before a rally aimed at encouraging a local legislator to support strengthening legislation surrounding background checks for gun purchases, organizers opted to postpone the demonstration.

In an email to Patch just before 6 a.m. Wednesday morning, Moms Demand Action Regional Manager Maureen Buckley said State Rep. Thomas Murt had agreed to meet with representatives from her group, as well as CeaseFirePA to discuss reconsidering his decision to not cosponsor House Bill 1010. 

Organizers had originally planned to stage a rally in front of Murt's Hatboro district office on Wednesday to draw attention to the nine women killed each week by domestic gun violence and to urge Murt to cosponsor the legislation, which both groups said would close the loophole in Pennsylvania law that allows private sales of long guns without a background check.

Buckley said she's glad for the opportunity to meet with Murt about the "modest, yet important bill."

"We are moms; we are serious about working together to get things done and applaud Rep Murt's willingness to help make our communities safer," Buckley said. 

When reached later for comment, Rep. Murt said he was "bewildered" about why his office was chosen for the rally in the first place.

"I support that bill," Murt said. "I support House Bill 1010 as it stands so I'm not sure why the rally was called at my office."