Chester County arrest a reminder of need for stronger gun laws

By Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe

Chester County district attorney

On June 14, the West Chester Police Department and Chester County Sheriff’s Office prevented a dangerous situation from unfolding at the “No Kings” protest in West Chester by approaching and ultimately arresting Kevin Krebs, who was armed with a loaded gun. The subsequent investigation by law enforcement — including my office and the FBI — led to the discovery of homemade bombs. We still have unanswered questions, and the investigation is ongoing.  But what I do know is that there are three things that we can do to create a safer community.

First, we can outlaw machine gun conversion devices — also known as “switches” or “selectors” — in Pennsylvania.  These devices turn regular handguns and rifles into fully automatic weapons by interfering with a firearm’s internal trigger mechanisms. They were found in a search of the suspect’s home. They are incredibly dangerous, already illegal federally, and their use by criminals is on the rise.

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,  5,454 machine gun conversion devices were recovered between 2017 and 2021. In 2023, 5,816 were recovered.  And just a few weeks ago, Philadelphia police determined that a 3D-printed machine gun conversion device was used in a mass shooting that killed two people and injured nine others in Fairmount Park.

This problem is not going away; it is getting worse. That is why the bipartisan group of prosecutors in the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association have asked state lawmakers to make it illegal to possess them. This is not a Second Amendment issue — 27 states have outlawed these devices.  If Alabama can pass a law outlawing them, we can do it in Pennsylvania, too.

Second, we need to talk seriously again about passing a “Red Flag” law in Pennsylvania that would allow police to temporarily disarm someone who is not mentally stable — before they commit a crime with a gun. Here is how they work: if a family member or police officer encounters someone who is mentally unstable, they can apply to a judge for an Extreme Risk Protection Order. Once the order is issued, law enforcement can take control of the individual’s guns while they get treatment.  Once the mental health crisis is averted, the individual is able to regain their guns.  In addition to helping prevent shootings, these laws mitigate the risk of suicide.

There is room for legitimate debate about how and when we should allow the government to take guns away from someone suffering from mental illness. Having been exposed to the disturbing cases that our first responders have had to deal with, there is no doubt in my mind that a law like this would save lives. Pennsylvania should join the 21 states that have passed a Red Flag law.

Finally, we need to provide grant funding opportunities for local police departments so that they can effectively keep protests, community gatherings and festivals safe for everyone. We cannot simply rely on police officers watching over a crowd. Tools such as mobile infrastructure to harden gathering locations, high quality cameras, K-9 units and personnel dedicated to assessing threats should be readily available to larger police departments who host events that define our communities.

Certainly, the FBI and other federal agencies are a tremendous resource when we call on them for help, but it is a boots-on-the-ground patrol officer who is left to provide the instant reaction to a dangerous situation. Police departments should have access to grants to fund training and purchase tools that allow officers to deal with an ever-changing threat landscape.

Regardless of your viewpoint or message, in Chester County, we will do everything we can to protect those exercising their fundamental American right to peacefully protest.  On June 14, a concerned citizen who said something and quick police work won the day.  But in the long term, law enforcement cannot protect our welfare and our rights without modern laws and funding that allow them to meet today’s challenges.