In the wake of the recent tragic Florida school shooting that left 17 dead, Pennsylvania lawmakers are reviewing a series of gun-bills designed to improve public safety in our state. In the past several weeks, both the House and Senate have considered bills intended to improve background checks and keep firearms out of the hands of convicted domestic abusers.
Gov. Tom Wolf is onboard with these bills, and recently asked the legislature to consider “common-sense gun reform bills that will help us close dangerous loopholes and keep weapons out of the hands of individuals who pose a threat to Pennsylvania’s citizens.”
Some of the bills being considered
The Senate already has passed its version of a bill that would keep guns away from people convicted of domestic abuse, and the bill now must pass the House. Among the related bills that Pennsylvania lawmakers are considering include those that would:
- Create orders preventing gun purchases by people considered at risk of killing themselves and others.
- Make all gun sales subject to buyer background check. A current loophole in state law does not allow the state police to review the criminal history of citizens who buy “long guns” from licensed dealers or make private sales and trades among each other.
- Require lost or stolen guns to be reported.
- Boost police training for domestic abuse-related calls.
- Add funding to schools related to counseling and mental health services.
Republicans and Democrats have worked together on these bills that are geared toward public safety, but without diminishing the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment.