Day 4: Legislation

New law deal with those who take aim at police

Election of Obama a polarizing moment in world of gun rights

Local lawmakers views on firearms

Gun crime sentencing

In Pennsylvania there is a minimum sentence for violent crimes committed with firearms

Back to being banned?

Various groups are fighting to have the assualt weapons ban reinstated

A look behind 'Pulling the Trigger'

The role that firearms play in the lives of Chester County residents is as diverse as the population itself.

From the threats that guns pose from armed home invasions in the Coatesville area to the bonds they create from family hunting trips in Warwick, it is apparent that — depending on one’s social environment or the community one inhabits — people’s views on the use of firearms in our midst could be drastically different.

That divergence of opinion and experience is what inspired this series. Over four days we will examine in detail the various uses of guns in Chester County — from hunting to home protection to public safety to crime to existing firearm laws and the proposals to change them.

Day 3: Protection and Purchasing

The last line of home defense
A home-protection course aims to help county residents prepare for home invasion scenarios

Gun sales
Talking with commercial firearm dealers in the area

Safe handling
Safety training is not required before buying a gun in Pennsylvania, but it is a good idea

Back up plan
The story of one woman who keeps a gun rack at her bedside

Gun retailing
The number of licensed firearm dealers in Chester County has declined ovcr the past 7 years

SWAT training
Training ensures emergency responders are prepared for dangerous situations they may face

Guns and PFAs
Hundreds of guns are confiscated by the Sheriff's office after court-issued protection from abuse order

Who can buy a gun?
Federal laws restrict gun ownership

Obtaining a permit
Information from the county Sheriff's department on how to obtain a concealed-carry permit

Day 2: Hunting

A family affair
Hunting is more than a hobby, for some it is a tradition passed down from generation to generation

Educating for safety
Hunters must pass an educational course get a hunting license in Pennsylvania

Accidents can happen

We take a look at three accidents that have occurred over the past few years

Enforcing rules
A shooting range in Warwick has been the focus of the state game commission

Day 1: Crime

A family's anguish
The story behind the death of Shontae Peterson

Gun crimes rise locally
Chester county has seen an increase in gun-related crime since the year 2000

An inmate's story
Sitting down with Benjamin Bowman, who is in prison serving a murder sentence

Homicide mystery
A lengthy investigation leads to a guilty plea

Guns in the city
Coatesville consistently sees more gun violence than other parts of the county

Straw purchases
Convicted felons cannot legally buy guns

Gun crime statistics