Editorial: Tougher gun rules needed in PFA cases

The shooting incident that left four people wounded last week at a Masontown magistrate’s office could have been prevented if Patrick Dowdell had been forced to relinquish his gun.

Dowdell, who was killed by a German Township police officer, had a hearing scheduled for charges of strangulation, terroristic threats, harassment and simple and aggravated assault. He was arrested Aug. 28 after allegedly trying to choke his wife with a belt after she said she wanted a divorce.

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