Where do your elected officials stand?

Look up your Pennsylvania legislators' positions on past and current laws and bills, courtesy of the non-partisan website VoteSmart.org.

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According to a recent survey by Lake Research Partners, 71 percent of Pennsylvania voters—and 61 percent of gun owners—support a statewide limit on handgun purchases to one handgun per month. The survey found that 81 percent support legislation requiring gun owners to report lost or stolen guns (source: Lake Research Partners).

If you agree with these simple yet powerful measures to reduce and prevent gun violence, you are in the majority.



Pennsylvania Gun Law Q&A

ANTI-TRAFFICKING: Is there a one-handgun-per-month limit on gun sales?
No. No state restrictions on gun-trafficking such as a limit on the number of handguns that can be purchased at one time. Gun traffickers can easily buy large quantities of handguns at gun stores and resell them on the street to criminals.
ASSAULT WEAPONS: Are there limitations on assault weapons and magazines?
No. The federal law banning the sale of semi-automatic assault weapons, known as the federal assault weapons ban, has expired. It was passed as part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. President Clinton signed it into law on September 13, 1994. Despite his promise to renew the ban, President George W. Bush and Congress allowed the ban to "sunset" in September of 2004.
ATTORNEY GENERAL REGULATIONS: May Attorney General regulate guns?
Yes. Pennsylvania State law grants the Attorney General independent authority to regulate firearms, as part of the AG's responsibility to protect consumers, but the Attorney General has not used this authority to establish gun safety standards.
CHILD ACCESS PREVENTION (CAP): Are gun owners held accountable for leaving guns accessible to kids?
No. No state requirement that gun owners take responsible steps to prevent children from gaining easy access to their firearms. Gun owners are not held accountable for leaving loaded guns around kids, even if a young child shoots themselves or someone else with a gun left in plain sight.
LICENSE OR PERMIT TO PURCHASE: Is a license/permit required to buy handguns?
No. No state requirement that handgun buyers obtain a handgun license or undergo any type of safety training prior to buying a handgun.
LOCAL GUN LAWS - PREEMPTION: May cities enact laws stronger than the state's?
No. State law forbids local city or county governments from enacting any local gun laws, even though the state has failed to pass responsible state-wide laws. This preemption of local government authority makes it impossible for cities to enact sensible gun laws to make their citizens safer.
REGISTRATION: Are all guns registered with law enforcement?
No. No state requirement that gun owners register their firearms. Police do not know how many guns are in the state or where they are. The lack of registration data makes it more difficult for police to trace guns used in crime, identify illegal gun traffickers or hold gun owners accountable for their weapons. Although the state keeps records on handgun transfers, there is no state system to automatically identify and disarm felons and other prohibited people who bought guns legally in the past, but later committed a crime or otherwise became ineligible to keep possession of their firearms.
SAFETY TRAINING: Is safety training required for handgun buyers?
No. No state requirement that handgun buyers receive any safety training at all. No requirement that handgun buyers demonstrate any familiarity with gun laws or knowledge about safe handling/safe storage of handguns.
SCHOOL ZONES: Is it illegal for CCW permit holders to carry guns into schools?
Partial. Pennsylvania State law does not clearly prohibit people from carrying hidden handguns into schools if they have an easily-obtained CCW permit. The law provides a defense for CCW permit holders to carry a gun into school "for lawful purpose."
WAITING PERIOD: Is there a waiting period on gun sales?
No. No state requirement that there be a waiting period for gun sales beyond the "instant check" in federal law. Police are not given any additional time to run a criminal background check to make sure the gun buyer is not prohibited from acquiring firearms. There is no "cooling off" period to help prevent crimes of passion.

(Source: The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence)



Stronger gun-control laws are needed.

Governor Rendell, the mayors from towns and cities across the state—including Scranton, Carlisle, York, Philadelphia, Lancaster and Pittsburgh—and several Democratic legislators seek to institute "common sense" gun laws—practical legal measures to combat gun violence. These leaders and lawmakers are calling on the Legislature to enact stronger gun-control laws, with a focus on four critical issues:

These bills are stuck in the House Judiciary Committee, where the committee chairman, Rep. Thomas Caltagirone (R-Berks), has said he does not have the votes to move them to the floor.

For more information on all bills: www.Congress.org and www.votesmart.org

The gun law summaries provided by Moms Against Guns should not be regarded as explanation of state law. While we try to keep this information accurate and updated, this material is provided for general discussion and reference purposes only.


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