Protesting Gun Violence in Philadelphia

Posted by rebekah

I found this article in the Philadelphia Inquirer a few days ago, regarding the acquittal of twelve religious activists who were arrested back in January for protesting gun violence outside of a Philadelphia gun shop. The group of interdenominational clergy and activists known as Heeding God’s Call has been fighting to put an end to straw purchases, the practice of legally purchasing large amounts firearms then reselling them to criminals on the street. They chose Colosimo’s Gun Center as their target – a store that has been known to aid straw purchases in the past – to ask the owner to sign a 10-point code of conduct to reform his business practices, resulting in safer and more secure legal purchases to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and reduce gun violence in the city. The owner refused to sign, and the protesters were arrested for conspiracy, defiant trespassing, disorderly conduct, and obstruction. Their case went to trial earlier last week, and on Wednesday all 12 were acquitted.

Monica Yant Kinney: Appeal to conscience carries the day

by Monica Yant Kinney

Inquirer Columnist

“Twelve religious activists pulled off a legal miracle yesterday: They convinced a judge – who once worked for the Philadelphia Police Department, of all places – that it’s OK to break the law if the harm you cause is less than the harm you think you’re preventing.

…For six hours, a passionate prosecutor in a city beset by violence was put in the odd position of having to beat back factual evidence about a notorious gun seller.

…The protesters faced trespassing, disorderly conduct, and conspiracy charges for two demonstrations, one of which I viewed and chronicled as part of my efforts to beef up Pennsylvania’s anemic gun laws.

…On Jan. 14, I tagged along as the members of Heeding God’s Call staged a stand-in at Colosimo’s, hoping he would sign a voluntary 10-point code of conduct for responsible gun dealers.

…Twenty percent of crime guns recovered in Philadelphia were purchased at Colosimo’s Gun Center, one of several somber statistics discussed at the trial. Another? That the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence crowned Colosimo’s the fifth-worst gun seller in America.

In a legal filing last year, City Solicitor Shelley Smith went so far as to say ‘Colosimo’s values profits over the lives of others.’ At best, she wrote, the store ‘knowingly continued its abysmally poor business practices after repeatedly being notified by ATF of its guns flowing into the hands of criminals. At worst, Colosimo’s knowingly traffics in crime guns.’

…’People are dying,’ activist Miriam Copp replied. ‘We have to take bold steps and personal risks to address the violence.’

…In closing arguments, defense attorneys Lawrence Krasner and Lloyd Long Jr. pressed the notion of justification, saying protesters hoped that temporarily stymieing gun sales would thwart crime.

…’Their behavior was justified,’ Krasner insisted, ‘because they were trying to prevent a great evil by doing a lesser evil.’”