Second Amendment advocates scored significant victories in their battle against yet more gun control in the Pennsylvania House, but there was also a major defeat to absorb.
Representatives last week considered four gun-related bills that would either die in the chamber or move on to the Pennsylvania Senate. Unfortunately, one of the most egregious passed muster on a 104-99 vote.
Anti-gun lawmakers succeeded in passing a ban on private sales without government permission
HB 1593 seeks to eliminate private long gun sales unless the government tells you it is okay to proceed. It was a narrow vote, but Gun Owners of America (GOA) noted that five representatives broke ranks with their colleagues to form the anti-gun majority.
Perhaps even worse, HB 1593 would lay the groundwork for a statewide gun registry by cataloguing all weapons transactions.
There was better news to report on the other three proposals.
HB 1099 targeted homemade hobby weapons. It would have made it a 3rd degree felony to possess or sell a 3D-printed firearm, but gun rights opponents did not receive enough votes.
Gun rights supporters successfully defeated three House proposals
Then there’s HB 1859 and HB 1866. The former would create a “red flag” system to confiscate firearms from individuals who someone feels would be a threat to themselves or others.
While no one wants dangerous persons to possess weapons, these laws are controversial because they afford the accused little to no due process once another individual targets them. There is virtually no recourse to losing gun rights when someone—often without proof—levels a charge.
Meanwhile, HB 1866 intended to ban “Glock switches” and other conversion devices. This is merely posturing and window dressing because these add-ons are already prohibited by federal law.
The good news is that three of the four proposals were struck down thanks to efforts by gun rights organizations and scores of law-abiding gun owners.
As for HB 1593, the hope is that it will stall out in the Senate.
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