Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era

STATE

Biden holds meeting on gun control Lawmaker presses to legalize pot Bucknell gets $10 million gift

PHILADELPHIA -- Vice President Joe Biden said a meeting Monday about gun control with lawmakers and police yielded a shared sense of urgency for implementing tighter gun laws.

The Obama administration wants Congress to require background checks for all gun sales, ban military-style weapons and limit high-capacity ammunition magazines to 10 rounds. The changes are being sought in the aftermath of the Newtown, Conn., shooting on Dec. 14 that left 20 first-graders and six educators dead.

"We cannot wait," Biden said.

Federal lawmakers joining Biden included Reps. Bob Brady, Chaka Fattah and Allyson Schwartz, and Sen. Bob Casey. Also attending were Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey and Mayor Michael Nutter and New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly.

HARRISBURG -- Sen. Daylin Leach said Monday at a news conference that he's introducing a bill to legalize marijuana and raise revenue in Pennsylvania. Leach, a Democrat, represents the suburbs of Philadelphia including the Main Line.

Leach says state laws have treated pot smokers as criminals for 75 years, even though they harmed no other person or property.

He proposes that pot be sold with liquor and wine at the state stores to people who are at least 21. Leach says Pennsylvania needlessly spends $350 million a year prosecuting, incarcerating and monitoring marijuana crimes. He claims that taxing legal marijuana and marijuana businesses could generate hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

Gov. Tom Corbett has said he'd veto any legalization bill.

LEWISBURG -- Bucknell University, which recently acknowledged inflating students' SAT scores, has received a $10 million gift.

Bucknell President John Bravman said a couple pledged the money to express their support for the school in light of the scandal.

Bravman announced the gift on Friday, calling it the third-largest pledge in school history. He says the funds will go toward the university's scholarship endowment.