Share:
House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 31, 2013 10:29 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Madeleine Dean |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation that will amend Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes to require any owner or other person lawfully in possession of a firearm who suffers the loss or theft of a weapon to report it to law enforcement within 72 hours of the discovery. If a person fails to do so, he or she will be charged with a summary offense. According to the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, laws that require firearm owners to report lost or stolen firearms serve several public safety functions. These laws help deter gun trafficking and discourage straw purchasing, as well as assist lawful gun owners by facilitating the recovery of their lost or stolen property. In addition, my legislation would make gun owners more accountable for their weapons, and protect gun owners by preventing unwarranted criminal accusations against owners who suffer thefts or losses. Furthermore, my bill would allow Pennsylvania to join a growing list of other states such as Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, and Rhode Island to require the reporting of lost or stolen firearms. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation that will assist law enforcement across the state. |
Introduced as HB1515