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Pennsylvania State Senate
10/31/2024 08:18 PM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?SPick=20230&chamber=S&cosponId=39043
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: December 30, 2022 11:30 AM
From: Senator Cris Dush
To: All Senate members
Subject: Constitutional Carry of a Firearm
 
In the near future, I plan to re-introduce legislation that will create a two-tiered system for the concealed carrying of firearms for lawful purposes in Pennsylvania. Previously, this was SB565 and was sponsored by Senators J. Ward, Stefano, Pittman, Phillips-Hill, Yaw, Mensch, Hutchinson, Mastriano, Langerholc, Scavello, Robinson, Bartolotta, Brooks, Aument, Gebhard, DiSanto, Vogel, Corman, and Regan. This was Veto No. 4 last session.
 
This legislation will provide a new system for concealed carrying of firearms for Pennsylvanians.
 
The first level would no longer require law abiding citizens to obtain a permit to carry a firearm concealed in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvanians have a fundamental constitutional right to keep and bear arms (Article 1, Section 21 of the Pennsylvania Constitution).  Evidence to that effect is that no License to Carry a Firearm (LTCF) is currently required for law abiding citizens to openly carry a firearm throughout Pennsylvania.
 
Citizens who pass a criminal background check to purchase a new firearm are the least likely to commit an offense with a firearm.  It is patently unjust and constitutionally questionable to add layers of bureaucratic regulations on these law abiding citizens just because they prefer to carry their weapon concealed.
 
The second level provides citizens the ability to obtain an optional LTCF permit that is valid throughout Pennsylvania and would provide for carrying firearms in other states (currently, 32 states either recognize Pennsylvania LTCF’s or a reciprocity agreement is in effect).
 
This legislation defends the rights of the citizens in our Commonwealth and I urge you all to co-sponsor this legislation. Those Pennsylvanians that follow the law each day should not be punished or hindered if they choose to carry a firearm.
 
 



Introduced as SB357