Criminal Justice (Firearms)

in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Apr 9, 2025

SB 556: 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 imposing penalties.

SB 556 prohibits Pennsylvania government entities from creating or maintaining firearm ownership registries and bans payment processors from classifying gun retailers differently than general merchandise stores. It directly affects local governments, law enforcement, banks, and firearm sellers by preventing registry systems and requiring uniform payment classifications for gun retailers. The bill imposes penalties including third-degree felonies for registry violations and $2,500 administrative fines for payment classification violations. It does not change firearm ownership laws but targets administrative and financial practices related to gun sales. The bill is currently pending in the Judiciary committee.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeProhibits firearm registries and restricts government oversight of firearms, weakening a key criminal justice oversight tool per OPPOSE indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 31, 2025

HB 1065: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for definitions and providing for the offense of sale of firearm or firearm parts without serial numbers and for privately made firearms.

HB 1065 creates a new felony offense for selling unmarked firearm components in Pennsylvania. It specifically targets the sale of firearm frames/receivers, silencer frames, split/modular frames, or partially complete frames without serial numbers registered to a federal firearms licensee. The bill defines "privately made firearm" as one assembled by non-licensed individuals without federal serial markings. This law directly affects sellers of homemade or unlicensed firearm parts, making such sales a third-degree felony. It does not change laws regarding firearm ownership or purchase, only penalizing the sale of unmarked components.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new felony for unmarked firearm parts, expanding criminalization per indicators85% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Mar 10, 2025

HB 837: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, providing for limit on handgun purchases; and establishing the Violence Prevention Account.

HB 837 limits handgun purchases and sales in Pennsylvania to one per person within any 30-day period, applying to most individuals but excluding licensed dealers, collectors, law enforcement, correctional facilities, security companies, antique firearms, and documented cases of stolen or lost handguns (with specific reporting requirements). It establishes the Violence Prevention Account, funded by fines from violations, to support youth violence prevention programs and law enforcement training grants. Sellers must conduct a purchase history check and inform buyers about the 30-day limit and penalties. Violations are misdemeanors for first offenses and felonies for repeat offenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeLimits handgun sales to reduce violence and funds youth prevention programs via Violence Prevention Account, aligning with reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Jun 3, 2025

SB 200: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, providing for assault weapons and large capacity magazines and establishing the Firearms and Ammunition Buyback Program and the Pennsylvania State Police Buyback Fund; imposing duties on the Pennsylvania State Police; and imposing penalties.

SB 200 prohibits the possession, sale, or transfer of assault weapons and large capacity magazines in Pennsylvania, requiring current owners to either obtain a certificate from the Pennsylvania State Police within 180 days or surrender the weapons. To get a certificate, owners must pass background checks, provide weapon details, and meet secure storage requirements (e.g., locked containers or devices preventing discharge). The bill also establishes a Firearms and Ammunition Buyback Program and a related fund, though specific implementation details are not provided in the text. This directly affects individuals who currently own prohibited firearms, imposing new legal obligations for possession or surrender.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProhibits assault weapons/large magazines, mandates buyback program, and secure storage requirements to reduce gun violence - directly aligns with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Policing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Jan 27, 2025

HB 345: An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in the State System of Higher Education, further providing for definitions and for powers and duties of councils of trustees.

This bill amends Pennsylvania's Public School Code to change firearm authorization rules for campus police at state universities. It requires campus police to meet state certification standards before carrying firearms and voids all existing resolutions authorizing campus police to carry weapons. The policy directly affects campus police officers and trustees councils across Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education. The change takes effect 60 days after enactment, replacing prior authorization processes with new certification requirements.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill mandates state certification for campus police firearm carrying, enhancing accountability and safety in law enforcement, a key criminal justice policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Policing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Oct 24, 2025

SB 669: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 23 (Domestic Relations) and 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for definitions, for the offense of persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms, for sale or transfer of firearms, for Pennsylvania State Police, for firearm sales surcharge, for Firearm Records Check Fund, for retail dealer required to be licensed and for licensing of dealers and providing for ammunition purchase authorization permits and for transporting ammunition into this Commonwealth; establishing the Ammunition Safety and Enforcement Fund; and making editorial changes.

SB 669 amends Pennsylvania's firearm laws to clarify definitions, restrict firearm possession, and regulate sales and transfers. It introduces new requirements for purchasing ammunition through "ammunition purchase authorization permits" and establishes the "Ammunition Safety and Enforcement Fund" to support enforcement. The bill directly affects gun owners, licensed dealers, and the Pennsylvania State Police by changing how firearms and ammunition are handled and regulated. Key provisions include updating rules for firearm sales surcharges, firearm records checks, and dealer licensing procedures across multiple statutes. These changes aim to modify existing firearm regulations without specifying new criminal penalties or restrictions beyond the defined mechanisms.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens firearm regulations and establishes enforcement fund, directly supporting law enforcement's role in criminal justice through enhanced regulatory mechanisms and funding.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Firearms Policing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House Feb 12, 2025

HB 568: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, providing for gun violence task forces.

HB 568 establishes county-level "gun violence task forces" in Pennsylvania communities with high and increasing gun violence rates. These task forces, created upon a district attorney's written request to the Attorney General, investigate violations of firearm laws (sections 6105 and 6111 of Title 18) and recommend prosecutions. The task forces include local law enforcement, community stakeholders, faith leaders, and neighborhood representatives, operating under the Attorney General’s authority. The Attorney General gains authority to prosecute certain firearm offenses in these counties, considering factors like the severity of the offense and the offender’s criminal history, while local prosecutors may request prosecution for specific cases involving murder or violent crimes.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates community-involved gun violence task forces to investigate firearm law violations, promoting collaborative criminal justice reform and targeted enforcement.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · Pennsylvania · House May 13, 2025

HB 1443: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in general provisions, further providing for definitions; in inchoate crimes, further providing for prohibited offensive weapons; in assault, further providing for discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure; in theft and related offenses, further providing for definitions; in riot, disorderly conduct and related offenses, further providing for prohibiting of paramilitary training; in firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for definitions, for persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms, for firearms not to be carried without a license and for prohibited conduct during emergency, providing for 3-D printed firearms and further providing for sale or transfer of firearms, for firearm sales surcharge, for registration of firearms and for licensing of dealers.

HB 1443 amends Pennsylvania’s criminal code to explicitly include "3-D printed firearms" in key definitions across multiple sections. It defines "3-D printed firearm" as a digital file intended to create a gun via 3-D printer, and clarifies that "firearm" encompasses any weapon - whether traditional or 3-D printed - that expels projectiles using explosives. The bill updates prohibitions on possessing, selling, or transferring firearms (including 3-D printed versions) and requires licensing for dealers and registration of firearms. This affects all Pennsylvanians who manufacture, sell, or possess firearms, including those using 3-D printing technology.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by explicitly prohibiting 3-D printed firearms under existing firearm prohibitions, increasing regulatory scope.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Violent Crime

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate Feb 26, 2025

SB 348: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, providing for report of theft or loss of firearm; and imposing a penalty.

SB 348 requires firearm owners or lawful possessors in Pennsylvania to report a lost or stolen firearm to local police within 24 hours, providing specific details like the serial number, model, and caliber. Police must then forward this information to the Pennsylvania State Police, who will share it with all law enforcement agencies to aid in locating the firearm. Violating this reporting requirement is a minor offense punishable by a fine of up to $500. The bill directly affects individuals who own or legally possess firearms, creating a new administrative duty to report losses or thefts.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires firearm theft reporting to aid law enforcement, enhancing public safety and police effectiveness in criminal justice context.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms Policing

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in committee · Pennsylvania · Senate May 22, 2025

SB 769: An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, providing for safe storage of firearm when not in use; and imposing penalties.

SB 769 requires firearm owners in Pennsylvania to store guns safely when not in use, directly affecting all gun owners who store firearms outside of immediate personal carry. The bill mandates storage using a lockable device, a built-in firearm lock, or a securely locked container. Violations are minor offenses for first-time violations, misdemeanors for repeat offenses, and felonies if the unsecured firearm is used in a crime causing injury or death. The bill is pending in the Judiciary Committee and has not yet been voted on.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates safe firearm storage to prevent accidental injuries/deaths, aligning with criminal justice reform goals of reducing gun violence and enhancing public safety.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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