In 2012, Harrisburg had at least 12 homicides caused by guns. Those homicides coupled with the tragedy in Newtown, are reasons why State lawmakers made it clear, they will make some changes.
It was a packed room at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore. Inside, community residents were asking a panel of local and state leaders how they plan to stop gun violence in the City and throughout the State.
The Mayor says last year, cops took 124 guns off the streets and charged 130 people. "To sit here and say that i could prevent murders from happening would suggest that i have a magic wand and i don't."
But Thompson says she has plans to add cops and create a new neighborhood safe zones program.
State Senator Daylin Leach and State Representative Patty Kim both say they'll vote to ban assault weapons, like the AR-15 used in the Newtown School Shooting.
Leach says these types of weapons aren't made for everyone. "There are types of weapons in my view that no civilian should have. Weapons that are modified for military style weapons, those that are designed not to hunt not to protect you from the burglar."
"What i don't get, is the assault weapons that are there to kill a lot of people in a short amount of time. I just don't get that at all," said Patty Kim.
One question was asked about adding more armed guards in schools, Harrisburg Schools Superintendent Sybil Knight-Burney says that's fine, but she's wondering who will pay for it and she isn't a fan of teachers with guns. "I think the trick for me is trying to make sure that those folks who have the guns are trained to have the guns."
Dauphin County First Assistant District Attorney Fran Chardo believes the number one problem is people who are mentally ill are able to get a hold of guns. "People who are mentally ill, who have been involuntarily committed and aren't on the record anywhere as having that profile , so they can walk into a gun shop and buy a gun."
Governor Corbett and NRA leaders were invited to attend this forum, but all declined.
It was a packed room at the Midtown Scholar Bookstore. Inside, community residents were asking a panel of local and state leaders how they plan to stop gun violence in the City and throughout the State.
The Mayor says last year, cops took 124 guns off the streets and charged 130 people. "To sit here and say that i could prevent murders from happening would suggest that i have a magic wand and i don't."
But Thompson says she has plans to add cops and create a new neighborhood safe zones program.
State Senator Daylin Leach and State Representative Patty Kim both say they'll vote to ban assault weapons, like the AR-15 used in the Newtown School Shooting.
Leach says these types of weapons aren't made for everyone. "There are types of weapons in my view that no civilian should have. Weapons that are modified for military style weapons, those that are designed not to hunt not to protect you from the burglar."
"What i don't get, is the assault weapons that are there to kill a lot of people in a short amount of time. I just don't get that at all," said Patty Kim.
One question was asked about adding more armed guards in schools, Harrisburg Schools Superintendent Sybil Knight-Burney says that's fine, but she's wondering who will pay for it and she isn't a fan of teachers with guns. "I think the trick for me is trying to make sure that those folks who have the guns are trained to have the guns."
Dauphin County First Assistant District Attorney Fran Chardo believes the number one problem is people who are mentally ill are able to get a hold of guns. "People who are mentally ill, who have been involuntarily committed and aren't on the record anywhere as having that profile , so they can walk into a gun shop and buy a gun."
Governor Corbett and NRA leaders were invited to attend this forum, but all declined.