Reps. Frank Farry and KC Tomlinson unveil their bill to require mandatory minimum sentences for felons illegally possessing firearms.

Two Pennsylvania State House members want to take a tougher stance on ex-convicts found in possession of an illegal weapon.

Rep. Frank Farry, R-Bucks, and Rep. K.C. Tomlinson, R-Bucks, have formally introduced legislation that would require new mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines for convicted offenders found with a weapon. House Bill 2819 would impose a new mandatory minimum sentence for those previously convicted of a felony and found illegally in possession of a firearm.

“Our legislation creates serious punishment to hold these criminals accountable and hopefully send the message that these kind of violent acts will not be tolerated,” Tomlinson said.

A first-time offender would receive a mandatory minimum jail sentence of eleven months. The mandatory minimum jail sentence would increase to five years for a second offense and 15 years for a third offense.

“As violence and crime continues to surge in Philadelphia, dangerous criminals are often crossing into our communities and illegally possessing firearms without regard for punishment. Quite often we hear the comment that the criminal should have never been on the street, but what we don’t often hear is they should have never had a firearm.” Farry said. “Our legislation would enact a mandatory minimum jail sentence for those that continue to defy the law and illegally possess a firearm.”

The legislation has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

It’s unlikely the bill will become law even if it passes the state Legislature in the wake of Gov. Tom Wolf’s veto of Markie’s Law, a bill that would require extended prison terms for those convicted of assaults committed while still in prison.

“The bill was prompted by the tragic death of an 8-year-old boy, and I sympathize with the family for their loss and for the desire of legislators to make Pennsylvania a safer place,” Wolf wrote in his veto of House Bill 146 earlier this month. “However, this legislation does not promote public safety, but instead proposes a mechanical and ineffective structure of mandatory parole denial, which is in effect a mandatory minimum by another name.”