Pennsylvania is poised this week to join the national conversation about changing gun laws in the wake of the Valentine's Day massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and other mass shooting incidents that have occurred in recent years.

The House Judiciary Committee, chaired by Rep. Ron Marsico, R-Dauphin County, is treading into these controversial waters by holding a series of hearings on firearms and public safety on Monday through Thursday at the state Capitol.

The hearings are to be webstreamed live at www.RonMarsico.com and www.PAHouseGOP.com from 11 to 1 p.m. Monday, 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and at a time to be determined on Thursday.

Given the 110 lives lost and 459 people injured, not including the shooter, in the last 6 months in mass shootings in this country, Marsico said, "It's the right thing to do."

A recent Franklin & Marshall poll found huge majorities support tighter background checks, a ban on assault weapons, and raising the minimum age to buy a firearm from 18 to 21.

"It has become clear to Chairman Marsico that he and other lawmakers need to explore ways to prevent these situations from happening in the future," said House Republican spokesman Steve Miskin.