Last week hundreds of people left Chester in buses to make the trek to Harrisburg to support a proposal that would make some commonsense changes to Pennsylvania gun laws, in particular when it comes to background checks.
It did not take long for them to realize - once again - when they arrived back home that Chester is awash in guns, many of them in the hands of people who should not have them.
Gunfire once again was heard on the streets of Chester Saturday night. This time the target apparently was a group of people in an SUV.
They weren't the ones hit in the hail of bullets, however.
Two young cousins were caught in the crossfire. Police believe they were innocent bystanders.
Zenas Powell, 14, was killed. His cousin, Quamar Powell, 16, was seriously wounded and remains in critical condition at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. A third person was wounded, but luckily escaped serious injury.
There are not a lot of lucky people on the streets of Chester these days. Residents are far too used to the sounds of gunfire. What was once a rarity too often now is simply explained away as part of everyday life.
That should not be the case.
Chester Mayor Thaddeus Kirkland again yesterday reiterated that this kind of senseless violence will not be tolerated. A $5,000 reward for information has been offered in the hopes that it will turn up information on the shooters.
I'm not sure the answer to gun violence is going to be found in Harrisburg. Sure, some of those measures being considered will help. There are simply too many guns out there, in the hands of people who should not have them.
I'm not sure that is going to change.
There is one other thing that won't change either. None of that is going to bring back Zenas Powell, the latest innocent victim of street violence in Chester.
You can read our full story on the shooting here.
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