by KYW's Steve Tawa
A Pennsylvania state lawmaker from Montgomery County is joining Philadelphia DA Lynne Abraham in her criticism of SEPTA for posting advertisements on buses promoting the movie Hitman.
State representative Mike Vereb was at a crime symposium last week in Hunting Park where he heard district attorney Lynne Abraham complain about billboards and advertisements on SEPTA buses for the movie.
Vereb says he understands SEPTA's need for funding but he believes an ad in which the main character is pointing a gun with a silencer is not an appropriate use of advertising space:
"We got rid of the Marlboro man years ago because cigarettes are bad for you. I submit to you that guns and guns with silencers are no better for you than cigarettes."
Vereb intends to work through the state district attorney's association to address his concerns through legislation.
SEPTA spokesman Richard Maloney says the ad was part of a two-week national buy that ended last week. He says SEPTA carefully reviews all ads for sex, violence, and alcohol, and the transit agency did not deem the silhouetted figure of a man objectionable.
Maloney says it reminded him of ads for one of the James Bond films, "The Man With the Golden Gun."
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