PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1600 PRINTER'S NO. 2342
No. 1340 Session of 1985
INTRODUCED BY DAWIDA, COHEN, PISTELLA, JOSEPHS, MRKONIC,
STABACK, RUDY, COLAFELLA, HUTCHINSON AND RICHARDSON,
JUNE 3, 1985
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, OCTOBER 22, 1985
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, imposing a moratorium on the use of a
3 stun gun.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
7 Statutes is amended by adding a section to read:
8 § 908.1. Moratorium on use of stun guns.
9 (a) General rule.--Stun guns are currently not approved by
10 any Federal regulatory agency. In consideration of the possible
11 harm that could be inflicted by the use of this weapon, until
12 guidelines for safe and restricted use can be implemented, a
13 six-month moratorium on the use of a stun gun is imposed.
14 (b) Definition.--As used in this section the term "stun gun"
15 means a hand held device capable of pumping electric charges
16 into individuals. The purpose of this weapon is to momentarily
17 stun, knock out or paralyze an individual by passing an
1 electrical shock to the individual. One common model is known as
2 the Nova XR-5000.
3 (C) EXEMPTION.--THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY POLICE <--
4 DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE, IF SUCH
5 POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN USING THE STUN GUN ON OR BEFORE THE
6 EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.
7 (c) (D) Expiration.--This section shall expire six months <--
8 from the effective date of this section.
9 Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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