Pittsburgh passes gun restrictions, and NRA (prematurely) announces a lawsuit

• Ed Mahon
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  Ed Mahon comes to Spotlight PA from PA Post, where he covered state politics and policy, produced radio stories that were broadcast on public media stations throughout the state and on NPR’s national newscasts, and co-wrote a weekday newsletter. Prior to joining PA Post, Ed worked for six years as an investigative and political reporter for the York Daily Record, part of the USA Today Network. His reporting on failures in Pennsylvania’s system for protecting domestic abuse victims was a finalist in the national 2018 Livingston Awards for Young Journalists in the local reporting category. He was also part of a team whose coverage of the criminal justice system, including the aggressive use of civil asset forfeiture by York County prosecutors, received the 2018 G. Richard Dew Award for Journalistic Service from the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association. Before joining the York Daily Record, Ed covered K-12 education at the Centre Daily Times in State College and worked as a stringer for suburban sections of The Philadelphia Inquirer. He grew up in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

 Keith Srakocic / The Associated Press

FILE PHOTO: Supporters applaud after the Pittsburgh city council voted 6-3 to pass gun-control legislation in the Pittsburgh City Council meeting, Tuesday, April 2, 2019, in Pittsburgh.

From The Context, PA Post’s weekday email newsletter:

The gun debate in one Pennsylvania city

Keith Srakocic / The Associated Press

Supporters applaud after the Pittsburgh city council voted 6-3 to pass gun-control legislation in the Pittsburgh City Council meeting, Tuesday, April 2, 2019, in Pittsburgh.

• Pittsburgh City Council voted 6-3 in favor of gun legislation Tuesday.

• Hours later, the National Rifle Association Institute for Legislative Action said that Pittsburgh residents had filed a lawsuit challenging the ban on publicly carrying loaded magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition — although the NRA later said the announcement was premature and it would sue after the legislation was signed.

• The legislation places restrictions on military-style assault weapons and allows the temporary seizure of guns from people considered a danger to themselves or others, according to WESA’s Ariel Worthy.

• The vote comes following the October shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue — described as the deadliest attack against the Jewish community in the United States.

• Meanwhile, members of Moms Demand Action plan to be in the state Capitol on Monday to advocate for Extreme Risk Protection Order legislation.

Best of the rest

J. Scott Applewhite / The Associated Press

Lilly Ledbetter, center, an activist for workplace equality, speaks at an event to advocate for the Paycheck Fairness Act on the 10th anniversary of President Barack Obama signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019.

• Philly.com’s Anna Orso took a look at what lawmakers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and elsewhere are doing to address pay inequity between men and women. U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick of Bucks County was one of seven Republicans who joined Democrats to vote in favor of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which passed the House last week.

• President Donald Trump wants people to say whether they are U.S. citizens when they respond to the 2020 census. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration has concerns, as WITF’s Katie Meyer explains.

• A special election took place Tuesday for a state Senate seat in the Pittsburgh suburbs. The AP’s Marc Levy laid out the stakes, saying it is an “election that some see as an early test of President Donald Trump’s strength in a critical battleground ahead of 2020.” Democrat Pam Iovino won.