House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	January 23, 2015 09:30 AM
From:	Representative Kevin J. Boyle
To:	All House members
Subject:	Background Check for Persons Selling Firearms

In the near future, I plan to re-introduce legislation – House Bill 1445 – to amend Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to require background checks for persons who sell firearms in the Commonwealth. Under Pennsylvania law, those individuals who wish to participate in the legal sale of firearms must obtain a license. However, licensed firearms dealers and their employees who are engaged in the sale of firearms are not required to undergo any sort of background check. My bill will fix this inequity and expand the safety measures surrounding the dealing of firearms in this Commonwealth, without restricting the sale of such firearms to legitimate gun purchasers. My bill would require that all individuals, who plan on participating or engaging in firearms’ sales, successfully complete a background check before doing so. Gun violence is on the rise in our nation, and mass shootings are becoming a commonplace event. My bill attempts to thwart such activity by ensuring that only responsible persons who have satisfactorily completed a background check are allowed to sell firearms. Sellers are, after all the first point of access for firearms purchasers. Please join me in this worthy initiative to keep our citizens and our streets safe.

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