PRINTER'S NO. 3484
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2833
Session of
2022
INTRODUCED BY QUINN, GUENST AND HOHENSTEIN, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2022
AN ACT
Amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses) and 42 (Judiciary and
Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, further
providing for definitions and for Straw Purchase Prevention
Education Program; and, in sentencing, providing for
sentencing enhancement for sale or possession of unserialized
firearm by certain persons.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 6183 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read:
§ 6183. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Unserialized firearm." A weapon which is designed to or may
readily be converted to expel any projectile by the action of an
explosive or the frame or receiver of the weapon that is
manufactured or otherwise assembled by an individual who is not
licensed to manufacture firearms under this chapter. The term
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
does not include an antique firearm as defined in section
6118(c) (relating to antique firearms).
Section 2. Section 6184 of Title 18 is amended to read:
§ 6184. Straw Purchase Prevention Education Program.
(a) Establishment.--The Straw Purchase Prevention Education
Program is established and shall provide resources and direct
grant money to underwrite the cost of implementing an
educational and public service outreach program in the
community, which shall include information on purchasing
unserialized firearms.
(b) Outreach.--The educational and public service outreach
program shall [inform]:
(1) Inform individuals of the illegal nature of
purchasing a firearm for an individual prohibited from owning
firearms.
(2) Inform individuals under what circumstances an
unserialized firearm may be manufactured, possessed, sold or
purchased.
(b.1) Program.--The outreach program shall be developed by a
not-for-profit organization which:
(1) Is a national trade association representing the
shooting, hunting and firearm industry.
(2) Has a membership consisting of firearm
manufacturers, firearm distributors, firearm retailers,
publishers and sportsmen's organizations.
(3) Has been in existence for at least 45 years prior to
the effective date of this section.
(c) Priority of grants.--Grants shall be prioritized based
on the highest incidence of firearm violence in a county of this
Commonwealth.
20220HB2833PN3484 - 2 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
Section 3. Title 42 is amended by adding a section to read:
§ 9712.2. Sentencing enhancement for sale or possession of
unserialized firearm by certain persons.
(a) Sentence enhancement.--The Pennsylvania Commission on
Sentencing, in accordance with section 2154 (relating to
adoption of guidelines for sentencing), shall provide for a
sentence enhancement within its guidelines for:
(1) A person convicted of an offense under 18 Pa.C.S. §
6105(a)(1) (relating to persons not to possess, use,
manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms) who
possesses an unserialized firearm.
(2) A person convicted of any other offense under 18
Pa.C.S. (relating to crimes and offenses) while in possession
of an unserialized firearm.
(3) A person convicted of an offense under 18 Pa.C.S. §
6111 (relating to sale or transfer of firearms) for the sale
of a firearm which is an unserialized firearm.
(b) Definition.--As used in this section, the term
"unserialized firearm" shall have the same meaning given to it
in 18 Pa.C.S. § 6183 (relating to definitions).
Section 4. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
20220HB2833PN3484 - 3 -
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21