In light of the police shooting last week of Antwon Rose Jr. and the overall tallies of, in particular, black people killed by police, a group of Democratic legislators gathered Monday to call for a package of policing reform bills.

Including Allegheny County representatives Ed Gainey, Austin Davis and Jake Wheatley, as well as Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus Chairman Rep. Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia), the lawmakers pushed for reform to restore the faith of communities of color in police.

State Senator Vincent J. Hughes (D-Philadelphia/Montgomery), Representative Jake Wheatley (D-Allegheny), and Representative Ed Gainey (D-Allegheny) announced the introduction of the bills last week that affect Lincoln University and Cheyney University specifically. 

The proposed office would be responsible for helping Cheyney and Lincoln work with federal departments and agencies, educational associations, and philanthropic organizations. 

House members discussed potential legislation that limits access to guns and there was no consensus during the fifth gun policy public hearing Tuesday. 

House Bill 1400, the background check bill and House Bill 194, legislation that would ban assault weapons, got the most criticism from Rep. Rick Saccone (R- Allegheny) and Rep. Barry Jozwiak (R-Berks).