Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney called for more gun control to prevent situations like the hours-long shootout that took place in North Philadelphia on Wednesday.
“Our officers need help. They need help. They need help with gun control. They need help keeping weapons out of these people’s hands,” Kenney said. “Because this government, from a federal and state level, don’t want to do anything about getting these guns off the streets and getting them out of the hands of criminals.”
“Our officers deserve to be protected and they don’t deserve to be shot at by a guy for hours with an unlimited supply of weapons and unlimited supply of bullets. So it’s disgusting and we gotta do something about it and do something about it quickly,” he added.
TONIGHT – after all 6 @PhillyPolice officers were released from the hospital, @PhillyMayor shifts the conversation to gun control. He’s calling on state and federal government officials to act. @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/mmYiwfhpnA
— jennifer joyce (@JenniJoyceTV) August 15, 2019
CONTD: @PhillyMayor pushing for gun control after 6 @PhillyPolice officers are released from the hospital @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/h93E5Va4n1
— jennifer joyce (@JenniJoyceTV) August 15, 2019
The alleged gunman, Maurice Hill, 36, has an long history of criminal convictions, including arrests for gun law violations. His was first arrested at 18 in 2001 for having a gun with an altered serial number. Hill has since been arrested over a dozen times, including being convicted six times on charges that involved illegal possession of guns, drug dealing, and aggravated assault.
Hill pleaded guilty to federal gun charges in 2008 after being caught with a revolver and a semi-automatic, which he was not lawfully allowed to possess because of his prior felony convictions. He was sentenced to four years and seven months in prison.
