HARRISBURG -- Even though he went 0 for 3 on major gun-control bills yesterday, Gov. Ed Rendell refused to concede defeat and insisted the fight has just begun to limit handgun purchases and require gun owners to report lost or stolen guns.

He said that rising gun violence in towns across Pennsylvania "has got to stop." He talked to reporters several hours after the House Judiciary Committee rejected two gun-control bills and tabled a third indefinitely.

"How many police officers have to become target practice before it stops?" he asked in an emotional voice. "I have sympathy for legislators. I know they're under a lot of pressure. The National Rifle Association is a machine, but it's time to say 'no' to the gun lobbyists."

The Judiciary Committee did give overwhelming approval to a fourth bill, but it wasn't controversial. It calls for a mandatory 20-year jail sentence for anyone convicted of intentionally shooting at a police officer -- even if the officer wasn't hit.

Mr. Rendell, a former mayor of Philadelphia, where six police officers have been shot recently, one fatally, insisted that he and other gun-control advocates "are not going away. It's the will of the people to get these bills out of committee and onto the floor for a vote. I would love to have success on this as governor in the next three years, but if it doesn't happen until I am Citizen Rendell, that's fine. We are going to win."

As a step in waging the battle, he said a major gun-control rally is planned for the Capitol Dec. 10. "Mayors and people from all over the state will be here, to demand that the House and Senate have the gumption to vote on these bills."

One bill would limit gun buyers to purchasing just one handgun a month. The bill was defeated 17 to 12.

Another bill would have allowed towns and cities to enact their own guns laws, tougher than state law. That bill was defeated by 19 to 10.

The committee then tabled the measure that would have required gun owners to report to police within 24 hours any gun that was lost or stolen.

Mr. Rendell said polls have shown strong public support for the bills. He called the committee's votes "a slap in the face for citizens and police officers."

Mr. Rendell admitted that one reason he'd like to get the full House and Senate to vote on the gun-control measures is to get all 253 legislators on record so voters will know where they stand when the 2008 elections are held.

Mr. Rendell's push for the gun-control bills began yesterday morning with what longtime Capitol observers said was an unprecedented action -- testifying in emotional style before the Judiciary Committee. He left before the votes were taken.

Sportsmen's groups and gun owner groups applauded the Judiciary Committee.

"We don't feel these bills would do anything at all to curb crime or gun violence," said Melody Zullinger, director of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs.

House GOP leader Sam Smith of Punxsutawney denounced Mr. Rendell's bills as "feel-good, headline-grabbing stuff that would only limit law-abiding citizens." He said the governor should focus his efforts on hiring more state police.

Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, a supporter of gun owners, accused Mr. Rendell of "trying, in an unprecedented manner, to pressure the Judiciary Committee. The votes on the bills were a defeat for the governor."

Robert Gleason, state GOP party chairman, accused Mr. Rendell and House Democrats of "trying to impose more restrictions and regulations on law-abiding gun owners."