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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 9, 2015 10:07 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Camera Bartolotta |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Elimination of PA Instant Check System (PICS) & Use of National Instant Check System (NICS) |
| In the near future, I will introduce legislation to eliminate the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS), the firearm background check system used by the Pennsylvania State Police to conduct instant background checks on prospective firearm purchasers, in favor of the National Instant Check System (NICS). PICS was created as a result of the 1995 Special Session on Crime and duplicates NICS which is also utilized by Pennsylvania to conduct background checks. Each state is free to determine the extent of its involvement with NICS and 36 states use NICS exclusively to conduct background checks on their behalf. Thirteen states, including Pennsylvania, duplicate the NICS process with an additional system of their own. In addition to being unnecessary, PICS is also expensive. While it was envisioned to be fiscally self-sufficient at the time it went online in 1998, a 2011 report from the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee (LBFC) found that two thirds of PICS's revenue comes from the General Fund to sustain its annual budget of over $6 million - 95% of which covers personnel costs. I believe this money, as well as the fees used to sustain PICS, can be put to better use than supporting a duplicative firearm background check system of limited value. Eliminating PICS will also streamline the administrative burdens faced by Federally Licensed Firearms (FFL) dealers surrounding the sale and purchase of firearms, while at the same time, maintaining public safety. For these reasons, I ask you to join me in cosponsoring this legislation. If you have questions, please contact Colleen Greer of my staff. |
Introduced as SB725