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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 12, 2023 01:22 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Melissa L. Shusterman |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Ending Illegal Firearm Trafficking in Pennsylvania |
| Each year, numerous guns are trafficked throughout the United States via the Iron Pipeline, a system of states with weak gun laws that allow individuals to obtain firearms via illegal means, like straw purchases. With roughly 8,850 crime guns traced to Pennsylvania in 2020, and 431 alone supplied from our state to New Jersey, our place in the Iron Pipeline cannot be ignored. My legislation aims to combat this problem by placing a limit on purchases of handguns in Pennsylvania, allowing one handgun per person within any 30-day period. Exceptions would be made for licensed firearm dealers, licensed collectors, law enforcement and correctional facilities, licensed private security companies, antique firearms, and stolen firearms. In addition, it would create a pathway for citizens to earn advance permission to purchase more than one gun during the 30-day period. Fines or fees from violators would be deposited into the Violence Prevention Fund and be used for police grants to prevent gun-related injuries. We must accept that we have a responsibility to end the illegal firearm trafficking taking place in Pennsylvania. I ask that you please join me in taking the first step to prevent more reckless gun trafficking – we cannot continue to allow Pennsylvania guns to put at risk the lives of men, women, and children across the nation. |
Introduced as HB1176