THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE BILL

INTRODUCED BY THOMAS, JOSEPHS, M. O'BRIEN, YOUNGBLOOD AND PAYTON, MARCH 23, 2009

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, MARCH 23, 2009  

AN ACT

Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous

articles, prohibiting certain assault weapons.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated

Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:

§ 6121.1.  Certain assault weapons prohibited.

(a)  Offense defined.--Any person in this Commonwealth who

possesses, uses, controls, sells, transfers or manufactures or

obtains a license to possess, use, control, sell, transfer or

manufacture an assault weapon in this Commonwealth commits a

felony of the third degree.

(b)  Exception.--The provisions of subsection (a) shall not

apply to a member of the armed forces of the United States or

the National Guard or a law enforcement officer while performing

official duties or traveling to or from an authorized place of

duty, provided that the possession of the assault weapon has

been duly authorized under applicable law, regulation or

military or law enforcement policy.

(c)  Definition.--As used in this section, the term "assault

weapon" means a semiautomatic rifle known as an SKS with

detachable magazine or any part or combination of parts designed

or intended to convert a firearm into such semiautomatic rifle

or any combination of parts from which such semiautomatic rifle

may be readily assembled if those parts are in the possession or

under the control of the same person.

Section 2.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.