The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s (PCCD) Office of Gun Violence Prevention recently hosted the second in a series of regional listening sessions to share what’s working to reduce violence, where additional resources are needed, and how the state can help support community‑driven solutions to make the region and Pennsylvania safer.
“We’re making progress in reducing gun violence statewide. Since the start of the Shapiro-Davis Administration, violent crime has declined significantly statewide — but even one life lost to gun violence is one too many,” said Charla Plaines, director of PCCD’s Office of Gun Violence Prevention. “Communities are facing unique challenges, including rising firearm suicides and domestic violence‑related fatalities. Addressing these issues requires strong collaboration across multiple systems, and by bringing together regional partners for these convenings, we hope to build new relationships and strengthen existing ones to make communities across our Commonwealth safer.”
The listening session brought together individuals from community-based organizations, criminal justice and reentry, victim services, youth-serving organizations, and more for a discussion centered on regional trends and programs making an impact in their communities.
More than 90% of students participating in the 2025 Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS) reported that it would be “sort of hard” or “very hard” to obtain a handgun, and 17% of the youth surveyed seriously considered attempting suicide.
PCCD said the goal of these listening sessions is to compile a report highlighting the state’s progress in reducing gun violence since Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Executive Order 2024-02 on Sept. 9, 2024, re-establishing the Pennsylvania Office of Gun Violence Prevention within PCCD.
Since that time, the office has also:
• Gathered feedback from nearly 900 Pennsylvanians through an online feedback form and seven statewide listening sessions.
• Convened a statewide advisory committee and launched four subcommittees focused on the Commonwealth’s key gun violence prevention priorities: youth gun involvement, firearm suicide prevention, community violence, and the intersection of domestic and intimate partner violence and gun violence.
• Released an Initial Report and Strategic Plan.
Pugh issues statement on proposed oversight
Rep. Brenda Pugh, R-Dallas Township, issued the following statement concerning the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) proposed updates to strengthen oversight of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” in biosolids for farmlands, touting that their announcement highlights the importance of an issue she has been working on since first hearing concerns directly from Pennsylvania farmers.
“My work on this issue began last year with a meeting with our local farm bureau,” Pugh said. “Farmers shared concerns about PFAS contamination, biosolids, groundwater, farmland, and the long-term safety of our food supply. Those conversations made it clear that this was an issue deserving serious attention.”
Following those discussions, Pugh met numerous times with DEP, agricultural stakeholders, and others to better understand the science, current regulations, and potential risks associated with PFAS in biosolids.
Those efforts led to Pugh introducing two pieces of legislation:
• House Bill 1116, which would require DEP to conduct a comprehensive scientific study of PFAS in biosolids, including impacts on soil, groundwater, crops, livestock, milk production, food safety, testing methods, treatment technologies and best practices from other states.
• House Bill 2249, which would establish enforceable protections by requiring the Environmental Quality Board to adopt PFAS contaminant limits for biosolids, prohibit land application when those limits are exceeded, require sampling and treatment before land application, and provide public reporting and oversight.
“Good public policy starts with good science,” Pugh said. “House Bill 1116 seeks to ensure Pennsylvania fully understands the scope of the issue, while House Bill 2249 builds on that knowledge by establishing meaningful safeguards to protect our farms, groundwater, and public health.”
Pugh said that DEP’s proposed permit revisions are separate from her legislation but address many of the same concerns that farmers first raised with her.
“The timeline tells an important story,” Pugh said. “It started with local farmers bringing concerns to my attention. That led to meetings with DEP and stakeholders, followed by legislation to study the issue and strengthen protections. Now DEP is proposing additional oversight of PFAS in biosolids. While these actions are independent of one another, they demonstrate that protecting our farmland, water resources, and food supply is an issue that deserves continued attention.”
“As legislators, our job is to listen, ask questions, and work toward practical, science-based solutions,” Pugh said. “I appreciate DEP’s continued work on this issue and look forward to reviewing the proposed permit changes. Protecting Pennsylvania agriculture, our water resources, and future generations must remain a priority.”
Brown encourages residents to honor veterans
Sen. Rosemary Brown, R-Monroe County, is encouraging residents to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall — a half-size replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. — when it comes to Stroudsburg later this month.
The Moving Wall will be on display at Stroudsburg High School from Thursday, July 9, through Monday, July 13, providing veterans, families, and community members with an opportunity to honor those who served and sacrificed during the Vietnam War.
The opening ceremony will be held on Friday, July 10, at 6 p.m., and the closing ceremony will take place on Sunday at sunset.
“The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Moving Wall is a place of remembrance, reflection, and healing,” Brown said. “Many of our Vietnam veterans and their families carry the wounds of this war daily. This memorial honors those who made the ultimate sacrifice, recognizes those who remain missing, and provides an opportunity for our entire community to reflect on the tremendous cost of service.”
Brown also emphasized the educational importance of the exhibit.
“It is especially important that younger generations have the opportunity to learn about the Vietnam War, the sacrifices made by those who served and the lasting impact the conflict had on our nation and our veterans,” Brown said. “By understanding their stories, we ensure their service and sacrifice are never forgotten.”
Brown thanked Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 678 for their hard work in bringing the memorial to northeastern Pennsylvania.
“I sincerely appreciate the tremendous effort of Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 678 to make this exhibit possible,” Brown said. “Their commitment to honoring our veterans and educating our community is truly commendable, and I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to visit the Moving Wall during its time in Stroudsburg.”
Pugh, Baker to host free event
Pugh and Sen. Lisa Baker, R-Lehman Township, will host a damaged license plate event from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 23, at the Luzerne County Fairgrounds, Route 118, Dallas.
The legislators said damaged plates have loss of reflectivity, peeling, or discoloration and are unreadable from 50 feet away.
Stop by this event to have your license plate checked. The police will determine whether the plate needs to be replaced and will assist with the appropriate paperwork. There is no fee for this service.
For information, contact Baker’s Nanticoke office at 570-740-2432 or Pugh’s office at 570-283-1001.
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Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on X @TLBillOBoyle.
