THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE BILL

INTRODUCED BY TARTAGLIONE, WASHINGTON, KITCHEN, WILLIAMS AND FARNESE, JANUARY 24, 2011

REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, JANUARY 24, 2011  

AN ACT

Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous

articles, further providing for registration of firearms; and

providing for mandatory registration of firearms in cities of

the first class and for transfer of firearms.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1.  Section 6111.4 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania

Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

§ 6111.4.  Registration of firearms.

[Notwithstanding any section of this chapter to the

contrary,] Except as provided in section 6111.6 (relating to

mandatory registration of firearms in cities of the first

class), nothing in this chapter shall be construed to allow any

government or law enforcement agency or any agent thereof to

create, maintain or operate any registry of firearm ownership

within this Commonwealth. For the purposes of this section only,

the term "firearm" shall include any weapon that is designed to

or may readily be converted to expel any projectile by the

action of an explosive or the frame or receiver of any such

weapon.

Section 2.  Title 18 is amended by adding sections to read:

§ 6111.6.  Mandatory registration of firearms in cities of the

first class.

(a)  Registration.--Every person who is a resident of a city

of the first class and acquires a firearm shall register the

firearm with the Pennsylvania State Police in the manner

prescribed by this section within five days of acquisition.

(b)  Contents of registration form.--The registration shall

be on a uniform form prescribed by the Attorney General and

shall include the following information:

(1)  Name and permanent address of the owner.

(2)  Name of the manufacturer and importer.

(3)  Model.

(4)  Type of action.

(5)  Caliber or gauge.

(6)  Serial number.

(7)  Source from which the acquisition occurred,

including the name and address of the prior registrant.

(8)  If the firearm has no serial number, the permit

number shall be entered in the space provided for the serial

number, and the permit number shall be engraved on the

receiver portion of the firearm prior to registration.

(c)  Confidentiality of information.--Registration data that

would identify the individual registering the firearm by name or

address shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed to

anyone, except as may be required for processing the

registration or as may be required by a law enforcement agency

for the lawful performance of its duties or as may be required

by order of a court.

(d)  Exemptions.--Registration shall not be required for:

(1)  Any firearm manufactured on or before 1898.

(2)  Any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock or

percussion cap type of ignition system.

(3)  Any replica of any firearm described in paragraph

(1) if the replica either:

(i)  is not designed or redesigned to use rimfire or

conventional center fire fixed ammunition; or

(ii)  uses rimfire or conventional center fire fixed

ammunition which is no longer manufactured in the United

States and which is not readily available in the ordinary

channels of commercial trade.

(e)  Registration fee.--No fee shall be charged for the

registration.

(f)  Penalty.--A resident of a city of the first class who

fails to register a firearm as required under this section

commits a misdemeanor of the first degree.

§ 6111.7.  Transfer of firearms.

(a)  Duty of transferor.--In all cases where a firearm is

acquired from another person within this Commonwealth, other

than a transfer that occurs under section 6111 (relating to sale

or transfer of firearms), the person who transfers title to the

firearm shall submit to the Pennsylvania State Police, within 48

hours after transferring the firearm, the following information

in writing:

(1)  Name and permanent address of the person who

transferred the firearm.

(2)  Name and permanent address of the person to whom the

title to the firearm was transferred.

(3)  Names of the manufacturer and importer.

(4)  Model.

(5)  Type of action.

(6)  Caliber or gauge.

(7)  Serial number as applicable.

(b)  Duty of transferee.--Any person who acquires a firearm

pursuant to subsection (a) shall be subject to section 6111.6

(relating to mandatory registration of firearms in cities of the

first class).

(c)  Penalty.--Any person who fails to comply with this

section commits a misdemeanor of the third degree.

Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.