A scary story out of Pennsylvania, where a lawmaker who’s done some fighting against gun violence has become a victim of it– his ex-wife and sister were shot and wounded in their home, and now State Rep. John Myers’ son is missing and presumed abducted.
The adult son of a Pennsylvania lawmaker was missing yesterday after reportedly being abducted on a street at gunpoint in the hours before his mother and sister were shot and wounded in their home.
State Rep. John Myers, a Philadelphia Democrat who has advocated gun control, issued a statement asking for the public’s help in locating his 26-year-old son, Shamari Taylor.
A female companion of Mr. Taylor’s told police that she and Mr. Taylor were abducted as they were out walking late Saturday. She said she was later released, according to police.
Mr. Myers spent a long night waiting for information from police, his spokeswoman Thera Martin said yesterday.
“He’s trying to be strong and stay calm, but he’s waiting,” Miss Martin said. “As he put it to me this morning, the longer it takes to hear anything in a situation like this, the chances are that it may not be good news.”
Our prayers and thoughts are with Representative Myers and his family during what must be a horrible ordeal. Myers has been working in Pennsylvania on exactly the kind of legislation that would help put an end to violence like this: one-gun-a-month, and a repeal of the state preemption law.
Mr. Myers has pursued state laws that would limit people to one gun purchase per month and let Philadelphia pass local gun laws that are stricter than the state’s.
His interest in gun control stemmed from the widespread violence afflicting the city, not from any personal experiences, said Philadelphia City Council member Donna Reed Miller, a close friend.
Meanwhile, Mr. Myers’ Republican opponent in the November election, Joseph L. Messa, is suspending his campaign indefinitely out of respect for the Myers family.
The latest reports are saying Myers is still waiting to hear from his son, and that no ransom demands have been made. We’ll be hoping and praying for a safe outcome in this case, and keep you updated when we hear more.
