LEGISLATIVE ACTION. EARLY THIS MORNING, HEARTFELT MESSAGES INSIDE THE STATE CAPITOL AS FAMILY MEMBERS OF GUN VIOLENCE VICTIMS JOINED LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AUSTIN DAVIS ON HOW THE ISSUE HAS CHANGED LIVES AND HOW THE SHAPIRO ADMINISTRATION PLANS TO ADDRESS IT. DEATH DATE UM 426, 2019. THESE ARE STORIES SHARED BY MANY OUTSIDE OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AUSTIN DAVIS OFFICE. AS MEMBERS OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ADVOCACY GROUPS SUCH AS CEASEFIRE PA AND MOMS DEMAND URGE THE IMPORTANCE OF LEGISLATIVE ACTION IN HIS BUDGET ADDRESS EARLIER THIS MONTH, GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO PROPOSED A $100 MILLION INCREASE IN FUNDING TO ADDRESS AND PREVENT GUN VIOLENCE IN PENNSYLVANIA COMMUNITIES. THAT INCLUDES THE PROPOSED OFFICE OF GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, WHICH WILL BE LED BY LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AUSTIN DAVIS. THE OFFICE WOULD WORK WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO RESEARCH DATA AND EVALUATE TRENDS AND CAUSES OF GUN VIOLENCE, AND INVESTIGATE THE NEEDS OF A LOCAL COMMUNITY. $1 MILLION WOULD GO TOWARD CREATING THIS OFFICE. THIS OFFICE IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE A MECHANISM TO MAKE SURE THE DOLLARS THAT WE’RE SPENDING IN TERMS OF VIOLENCE PREVENTION ARE GOING TO THE RIGHT PLACES AND ARE MAKING SURE THAT WE’RE MAKING INVESTMENTS THAT ARE REALLY GOING TO GET AT ROOTING OUT THE CAUSES OF GUN VIOLENCE HERE IN PENNSYLVANIA. AND THIS PLAN DOES NOT JUST ADDRESS URBAN GUN VIOLENCE AND HOMICIDES, BUT ANY FORM OF VIOLENT ACTS COMMITTED WITH A GUN, INCLUDING SUICIDES AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. BUT REPUBLICANS WHO CONTROL THE STATE SENATE HAVE VOICED THEIR CONCERNS WITH THE OVERALL SIZE OF GOVERNOR SHAPIRO’S BUDGET.