A handful of gun bills advanced out of Pennsylvania’s House Judiciary Committee, heading over to the main House floor for a closer look.
A total of four out of a proposed five bills were green-lit by the Committee, and target everything from 3D printed firearms to Red Flag Laws.
Calling the measures “common sense gun safety,” the Committee voted on party lines, passing the measures 14-12.
- House Bill 1099: Bans the manufacture, possession, or sale of so-called “ghost guns,” including 3D printed firearms and guns without serial numbers.
- House Bill 1593: Requires background checks on all gun purchases, including long guns, which were previously exempt if transferred through a private sale.
- House Bill 1859: Creates “Extreme Risk Protection Orders” a.k.a. “Red Flag Laws,” which allow the court system to temporarily remove guns from individuals deemed at risk. The bill would also prevent individuals under the orders from purchasing any firearms until cleared by the Courts.
- House Bill 1866: Bans Glock switches and other devices that convert semi-auto firearms into full-auto.
Only one bill was killed in committee — calling for the state to limit Pennsylvanians to only one handgun purchase per month. One of the Democratic lawmakers crossed the aisle to vote it down.
Committee Chair Rep. Tim Briggs (D) said the bills aim to balance the Second Amendment rights of residents with public safety.
“These bills represent thoughtful, reasonable approaches to reducing illegal trafficking, saving lives, and supporting law enforcement – while fully respecting the rights of responsible gun owners under the Second Amendment,” Briggs said in a statement.
But Republican lawmakers disagreed, calling the bills an attack on Constitutional rights.
“The individual’s constitutional rights to bear arms, sacred in our Constitution, sacred in our history, continues to be under attack every time a person is killed by a firearm, failing to recognize that it is the gunman, and not the gun, which is the cause of the attack,” State Rep. Tim Bonner (R) told City & State Pennsylvania. “Blaming the instrument and not the person is a failed approach to this problem.”
The bills were announced after a shooting in York County left three police officers dead.
The full Pennsylvania House will be able to vote on the bills as early as Sept. 29. Democratic Speaker of the House Joanna McClinton indicated she plans to fast-track the measures.
What do you think of the gun bills? Will there be enough votes to pass any measures? Let us know in the comments below. Want more news? Check out our News Category with all the latest updates.
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