Where will you be Friday afternoon?

By Rich Heiland. Columnist, The Times This Friday, June 2, I will be wearing orange and standing with others in our community who have had enough of the never-ending gun violence that is destroying our country. Where will you be standing? This Friday, June 2, people dressed in orange will gather at the Historic Chester Court House in my town, West Chester, to share an hour unified in the belief...

Gun violence is spiking because, frankly, we just don’t care

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgannpa The texts from my daughter happen every few days: “There was a shooting. I’m safe.” She — like her twin brother — is a senior at Temple University. The two of them live about 10 blocks apart in North Philly, but gunfire has become a pretty regular event for both, distressingly. Obviously, it scares the hell of out of me, but both are where...

Op/Ed: The time for gun safety reform is now

By Tim Kearney, State Sen., 26th District Tim Kearney This area is riling. Our country is in crisis. The culprit. Gun Violence. Far too many lives have been lost, communities shattered, and families forever changed because of gun violence. This is not just an inner-city problem or urban issue. Our country is being assaulted on two fronts—the COVID-19 pandemic AND the epidemic of gun violence. We...

Lock It For Love campaign launched

COATESVILLE — On a weekend when love is in the air, the Chester County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) and Coatesville Center for Community Health (CCCH) are launching a campaign about the care and protection of children. CCSO’s and CCCH’s Lock it for Love initiative sends the message: lock your guns. Free gun locks (while supplies last) are available for pick up at the CCSO’s main desk in the...

Op/Ed: Candles and balloons

By Donna Bullock, State Representative, 195th District State Rep. Donna Bullock My older son celebrated his 13th birthday in January.  We shared this moment virtually with family and friends. As I decorated his backdrop with balloons and he blew out candles on a cake, it hit me. Something so innocent and joyful has been redefined by the growing number of gun deaths. A week before, a 9-year-old...

Letter: Hopes State House backs Killion’s SB501 law to save lives from abusers

To The Editor, I would like to thank the Pennsylvania House of Representative’s Judiciary Committee for its recent six days of hearings on gun laws and gun violence prevention. I had the opportunity to attend three of these hearings, and I learned a lot. I would also like to thank the Pennsylvania Senate for unanimously passing Senator Killion’s bill, SB501. This bill closes loopholes within...

Op/Ed: Young people marched on gun safety, we must listen

By Tom Wolf, Governor, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf Young people marched for their lives. We need to listen – and act. The March for Our Lives brought together young people from across the country and Pennsylvania to demand safer schools and stronger gun safety laws. Their passion and activism took many forms in an historic show of solidarity, and they have inspired millions to join them in their...