HARRISBURG — Gov. Ed Rendell took the occasion of a memorial service for Pennsylvania police officers who have died in the line of duty to urge lawmakers to enact gun control laws that he believes would give greater protection to law enforcement.

Rendell spoke Monday of the upcoming funeral of Philadelphia police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski, who on Saturday became the latest of more than 700 officers to die in the line of duty in Pennsylvania. Liczbinski was shot with an assault rifle while responding to a bank robbery.

"I'll tell his wife and three children how sorry I am, and nothing changes," Rendell said.

"If you really want to pay honor and tribute to the memory of those 703 police officers who have given their lives, we will suck it in, do the right thing and pass laws that will give our police officers out in the street — protecting us every day — the maximum amount of protection we can," he said.

Rendell said 319 police officers in Pennsylvania were assaulted with firearms last year, and 12 of those assaults resulted in death or injury.