Rendell signs bill increasing some gun penalties

PHILADELPHIA - October 17, 2008 - Rendell signed the bill Friday at the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police lodge.

The signing comes less than 10 days after the Legislature unanimously approved the bill and less than a month after Philadelphia Police Officer Patrick McDonald was killed by an illegally purchased gun.

The bill raises the mandatory minimum sentence for anyone shooting a firearm at a police officer to 20 years. It also increases penalties for crimes related to straw purchases of firearms, for lying when filing federal paperwork to buy a gun and for filing a false report of a stolen gun.

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