Smart Talk: Pa Attorney General targets illegal guns and who can get them

• Scott LaMar
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Scott LaMar has worked in both radio and television for more than four decades.
  
  Currently, LaMar is the Host and Executive Producer of The Spark program on WITF-FM, 89.5 & 93.3 in Harrisburg, Pa.
  
  Previously, LaMar was WITF TV’s Sr. Public Affairs producer and produced the station’s award-winning weekly public affairs TV program, Smart Talk.
  
  In addition to his on-air duties, LaMar has moderated political candidate debates, including those for candidates running for Pennsylvania governor and the U.S. Senate and was a regular contributor to BBC World News TV before and after the 2020 U.S. Presidential election.
  
  LaMar often emcees or moderates local events and has gone as far as California to emcee a national event.
  
  The American Society of Civil Engineers honored LaMar with their national Excellence in Journalism award in 2020. He has been nominated for five Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards.
  
  LaMar and The Spark have been recognized throughout the Central Pennsylvania community including ADVOZ Lancaster’s “Dignity in Dialogue Award”, the South-Central Assembly’s “Regional Citizen Award” and was named a “Humanitarian Hero” by The Humane Society of the United States/Pennsylvania.
  
  A native of Coatesville, Pa., LaMar has also worked as a broadcast news anchor, sports play-by-play announcer and manager.
• Merideth Bucher
  BioRecent Stories

  

  Producer of WITF's Smart Talk

 Keith Srakocic / AP Photo

FILE PHOTO: Semi-Automatic handguns are displayed at Duke's Sport Shop, Wednesday, March 25, 2020, in New Castle, Pa.

Airdate: Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Two mass shootings and the momentum behind the new Biden administration are reviving the debate on gun control in the United States.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro wasted no time jumping into the issue by announcing an agreement reached with one of the state’s largest gun show promoters to halt the sale of ‘ghost gun’ kits at their gun shows. 

Shapiro took the issue one step further by leading a coalition of 18 states that are requesting U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland close a loophole in the interpretation of the federal Gun Control Act. The loophole allows people who are prohibited from purchasing firearms to buy ‘ghost guns,’ which are then assembled into untraceable weapons. 

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro appears on Smart Talk Wednesday to discuss this initiative, along with a call for expanded background checks.

Changes coming to Minor League Baseball

At one time, minor league and semi-pro baseball teams could be found in almost every town in America. Semi-pro teams that often played “barnstorming” Major League clubs went away decades ago. And this year, Minor League baseball is undergoing perhaps its biggest change ever.

Five levels of Minor League baseball are being whittled down to four. Whole leagues are being disbanded and 43 teams will not be affiliated with the Major Leagues, including the State College Spikes and Williamsport Crosscutters in Pennsylvania.

Andrew Linker, author, blogger and former beat reporter for the Patriot-News covering baseball appears on Smart Talk Wednesday with insight on the upcoming baseball season and changes to Minor League teams.