Philadelphia Daily News from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania • Page 6

THE PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1993 zrz i Ml to PAGE 6 assaw Mi i yen LbaoD bx John M. Baer sih ---JA rill N4 A. 3 a mS.jL Daily News Staff Writer HARRISBURG Philadelphia's gun ban remains intact for now as state lawmakers headed home last night for the holidays without taking action to overturn it. The state House debated guns all day and into the evening. But a final vote was never taken as House leaders agreed to table a measure that would erase bans on assault weapons by Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

The non-action seems to represent a change in the state lawmakers" attitude toward guns. Many said the change reflects growing public concern about crime and violence and the pols' fear of retribution, especially in suburbs and cities. "There's no doubt that the ASSOCIATED PRESS Rep. Thomas Michlovic, who sponsored bill to ban assault weapons, uses wine bottle and a TEC-9 semi-automatic to show reporters the state regulates wine sales more closely than assault weapons RAPID-FIRE ACTION waves of death crashing into our big cities has rendered this a completely new issue," said House Speaker H. William DeWeese, a strong supporter of the National Rifle Association.

And although the House voted down one amendment that would have imposed a statewide assault-weapons ban and another to expressly allow Philadelphia's ban, it approved an amendment outlawing 14 assault weapons by name, including Uzi pistols and the TEC-9, Philadelphia's so-called crime gun of choice. Because the bill was tabled, the amendments also are on hold. No action is expected again until at least mid-January. But keeping the city's ban in place is a clear win for Philadelphia lawmakers, who worked long and hard to find converts in' a chamber known for supporting gun enthusiasts. been took and we've been duped once again," Richardson said.

Others also trashed Ryan's amendment as political and mostly meaningless, but then voted for it. In all this there was clear evidence of pro-gun support among rural lawmakers. One, Rep. Teresa E. Brown, R-Crawford County, said she owned a handgun and rifles, and liked to hunt.

She said a firearm in rural Pennsylvania was "a tool and a thing of practical beauty." But there were signs suggesting Philadelphia's ban might stand even if the bill to end it passes. The vote against the statewide assault-gun ban which appears to be the core vote on guns was 115-83. It's significant because Gov. Casey says he'd veto a bill outlawing local bans. A veto override needs 136 votes.

amendment offered by GOP floor leader Matt Ryan of Delaware County to ban 14 name-brand assault weapons and shotguns with revolving cylinders. The vote was 101-95. It's believed to be the first time a gun measure without NRA support was approved by the full House. Even though many Philadel-phians said the measure was far short of what was needed, all city members in both parties voted for it except Acosta, Rieger, Democrat Bob O'Donnell, who left prior to the vote, and Democrat David P. Richardson who called the measure "a smoke screen." Richardson, a strong supporter of the city's ban, said Ryan's measure was a political ruse to protect those seeking re-election by offering something, even a weak measure, that appears to be anti-gun.

"W7e've been had and we've "We accomplished much more than we ever anticipated," said Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia. Significant action included: Efforts by leaders in both parties to end debate without votes to avoid any political pitfalls heading into an election year. All 203 House members face re-election in 1994. The statewide assault-weapon ban drew support of 83 lawmakers, 22 more than in 1989, when the issue last reached a House vote.

Supporters this time included all Philadelphia Republicans and many GOP suburban lawmakers who last time voted against it. All Philadelphia Democrats voted for the ban, except absent Reps. Ralph Acosta and Bill Rieger. Surprising approval of an Here are the key steps on gun-control issues taken in Harris-burg yesterday, including what's believed to be the first passage of a measure not approved by the NRA. TABLED: Overturn of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh assault-weapons ban.

FAILED: Statewide ban on assault weapons, 115-83. All Philadelphia lawmakers present voted for the amendment. PASSED: Statewide ban on 14 name-brand assault weapons, 101-95. All but one Philadelphia lawmaker present voted for the amendment. SHiootisig claims another ibrotlhiOB" 6v Yvonne Latty Daily News Staff Writer Arthur Russell was on his way home to write a college paper on gun control when his only brother was shot to death.

James Smith, 17, of Chris Collegian mourns slaying of his troubled sibling later at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Police said they didn't know what the argument concerned but that Smith had been carrying a gun. Russell's shoulders sagged, his eyes filled with tears and his soft voice kept fading out as he spoke about his brother. He said it was strange to have a chance to say something good about his brother. He never had a chance to because Smith was always in trouble.

He said Smith ran with the wrong crowd, and spent time in a juvenile delinquent center for riding in a stolen car that was carrying drugs. Smith hung out in a drug-infested part of the neighborhood with a tough group of kids who called him Jimmy and who thought he was "bad," Russell said. Smith, a junior at South Philadelphia High, was about 5-foot-3 and weighed close to 200 pounds. He had asthma and "breathed funny," Russell said. And when Smith tried to play basketball with Russell and his friends, he didn't fit in.

Instead, he hung out on the corners, "acting devilish" and never showing any fear, his brother said. "When I'd come home from college and he'd see me hanging around the streets, he'd say 'you don't belong here, go back to where you Russell said. Smith's father, a popular neighborhood grocery owner, died when his son was 2 months old, Russell said. As James Smith grew up, neighbors took a liking to him because he looked so much like his father. As a child, Smith would curse at them, trying to be funny, Russell said.

But as Smith grew older, neighbors stopped laughing at his foul language and felt he was no good, Russell said. Yesterday, when a reporter tried to ask neighbors about Smith, they closed their doors or walked away. Smith would fight a lot with his mother, but they would always make up, Russell said. See SMITH Page 19 tian street near I6tn, was killed on the steps of his aunt's house in South Philadelphia. "Guys are killing each other over senseless things," Russell, 21, a criminal-justice major at Community College of Philadelphia, said yesterday as he sat in his grandmother's dining room.

Teen-agers "used to just fight," he said. "You were Two boys in the same family. One hits the books and gets into college. The other hits the streets and gets into trouble and meets an early death. That's what happened with Arthur Russell, a Community College of Philadelphia student, and his younger brother James Smith, who was shot and killed Tuesday in South Philadelphia.

The Daily News, concerned about this growing epidemic of children and violence, has launched a yearlong Initiative exploring the Issue. We'll bring you the human tales and examine how well our institutions schools, social-service agencies, the judicial system, and churches and families are addressing the problem. Smith more of a man to use your hands than a gun." Smith was involved in an argument in a nearby lot Tuesday night, police said. He was shot in his right side as he tried to run into the family's rowhouse at Montrose Street near 15th. police said.

He died about four hours.