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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 1, 2013 05:03 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Michael P. McGeehan |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Mandatory Firearms Education for FirstTime Handgun Owners |
| Under the Game & Wildlife Code, hunters in the Commonwealth are required to possess a certificate of training before a hunting license is issued to them. Similarly, I intend to reintroduce a measure calling for all first-time purchasers of handguns to complete a firearms safety course, approved by the Commissioner of the State Police. As background, my bill was one of seven (of 25) handgun-related proposals that passed the House in a rare committee of the whole session convened in 2006. Altogether, 96 bills were introduced concerning violence. The legislation pertains to guns with a barrel length less than 26 inches and exempts standard-length hunting, target rifles and shotguns. Law enforcement personnel, active or reserve military, persons with a concealed pistol or revolver permit, persons who can demonstrate a second firearms purchase or transfer and persons who demonstrate an immediate personal safety threat are exempted from the requirement as determined by the Commissioner. While the intent of this legislation is to minimize proxy buyers who may be reluctant to take the course, most law-abiding citizens recognize firearms safety training as practical and not an inconvenience when considering the injury and death that occurs in mishandling firearms. If we able to thwart the proliferation of straw purchases, it’s one step closer to keeping guns out of the hands of criminals. Please join me in co-sponsoring this common sense legislation. Thank you. |
Introduced as HB1162