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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | March 16, 2023 03:37 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Morgan Cephas and Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Banning “Ghost Gun” Parts (Former HB1966 of 2021-2022) |
| The proliferation of “ghost guns” used in violent crimes throughout Pennsylvania and the nation has risen to a dangerous level. These guns, either pieced together from kits, or assembled from the sale of individual parts, are causing law enforcement and communities to grapple with an ever changing and illusive problem, one with fatal consequences. President Biden took executive action in August of 2022 addressing ghost guns. The new rules require anyone purchasing a kit to undergo a background check, which is required for other kinds of firearm purchases. Those selling kits will also be required to include a serial number on the components that make up the weapon, so the eventual firearm can be traced. It is clear that individual parts of these weapons, such as a frame or small working part of a yet un-assembled handgun, are allowing individuals to assemble a gun that is unregistered with no serial number. One that is then taken out into the community to be used at will. These gaps in Pennsylvania law allow the high demand for untraceable guns and gun parts to be met without any oversight. Our legislation would close these loopholes by prohibiting the purchase, sale, and production of untraceable gun parts. We need to act before it is too late, and our streets are overrun with these dangerous weapons. Please join us in keeping ghost guns out of the hands of criminals, easing law enforcement investigations of gun crimes, and saving the lives of countless innocent Pennsylvanians. |
Introduced as HB777