Meet some of Philly’s reluctant gun owners | Morning Newsletter
And the final pitches to jurors in the Johnny Doc trial
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We’re in for another partly sunny day but it’ll be cooler with a high in the December-like mid-40s.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, gun sales and permit issuances have risen sharply in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. In 2021, the city issued 52,230 new license-to-carry permits, an increase of more than 600% from the year before.
Our lead story explores the reason behind the surge and introduces you to some of the new gun owners.
— Taylor Allen (@TayImanAllen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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At 58, Janice Tosto is applying for a permit to carry a firearm. It’s not something she ever thought she’d do.
But over the last year, she began feeling a growing sense of lawlessness and danger in the city and particularly in her Germantown neighborhood.
In her own words: “I’m not thrilled that I have to do this,” Tosto said. “I’m kind of scared about doing this, but at the same time because of the way that things are going [with] all this lawlessness in the city, … as a Black woman, I just feel that it’s really important for me to have all the tools necessary to be able to defend myself.”
She’s not alone.
Although the boom of sales and permits have slowed since their pandemic peaks, those who work in the industry attribute the increased interest in firearm ownership to fear amid growing gun violence.
Read on to meet three others who are not gun enthusiasts, but increasingly feel like it’s the only way left to protect themselves.
Lawyers in John Dougherty’s federal embezzlement trial fought to cement two vastly different portraits of the former labor boss to the jury.
According to Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Costello, Dougherty was a hypocrite and a thief who publicly boasted of working tirelessly for his union while secretly stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars from its members.
Meanwhile, defense attorney Greg Pagano painted Dougherty as an advocate that “built their union up from nothing.”
The point-counterpoint came as jurors prepared to begin their deliberations in Dougherty’s second federal felony trial in two years.
What’s next: U.S. District Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl is expected to deliver instructions to the panel Tuesday morning before handing the case over to the seven women and five men that make up the jury.
Continue reading for more of the lawyers’ closing arguments before the jury decides Dougherty’s fate.
What you should know today
A viral protest chant that targeted Goldie, an Israeli-owned falafel shop in Center City, on Sunday drew swift rebukes from high-level officials including President Joe Biden and Gov. Josh Shapiro. The organizers of the protest say the criticism detracts from their demands of a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
Two security guards at Macy’s in Center City were stabbed, one fatally, Monday morning. The suspect was in police custody.
Sixers’ Kelly Oubre Jr. was cleared to play in Wednesday’s road game against the Washington Wizards, but did not say much about his alleged hit-and-run accident in his first media availability since the incident.
The man who punched Fox29′s Bob Kelly pleaded guilty to assault Monday.
Newly elected Philadelphia City Controller Christy Brady was sworn into office last week and will begin her tenure by reviewing the city’s antiviolence grants.
Safehouse attorneys in court argued in federal court that the Philly nonprofit has a religious right to open a supervised drug consumption site.
Several reports suggest that Gen Z and Millennials are fueling the real-Christmas-tree industry despite fear mongering TikToks.
🧠 Trivia time
What was the top song Philadelphians streamed in 2023 on Spotify?
A) “Kill Bill” by SZA
B) “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2″ by Ice Spice, PinkPantheress
C) “Last Night” by Morgan Wallen
D) “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
❌ Explaining: What to know about Philly’s possible ski mask ban.
🍴Craving: Craig LaBan’s latest recommendation, gluten-free empanadas at Sazón 2 Go.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: The country’s biggest buffet
BLOSSOM DAYDREAM GRAPHS
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Richelle Maestro, who correctly guessed Monday’s answer: Franklin Square.
Photo of the day
That should get you started for the day. I’ll be back tomorrow with more news. 📧