‘Common-sense solution' Pennsylvania bill could change firearm license process
The bill, authored by Emily Kinkead (D – Allegheny), would create new firearm eligibility under Title 18 of the Crime Code. To apply for the license, residents of Pennsylvania would follow a similar process to the one currently used when applying for a concealed carry permit.
To qualify for a license, an applicant will need to be 18 years or older, live in the Commonwealth, complete a firearms safety course and otherwise not be prohibited by law from purchasing or possessing a firearm. Kinkead argued that when Connecticut passed a licensing law, its firearm homicide rate decreased by 28% and its firearm suicide rate decreased by 33%.
Before issuing a firearm to a buyer, the issuing body may conduct a review of the applicant's criminal history, juvenile delinquency records and mental health records as well as an investigation as to whether the individual is otherwise precluded by law from owning a firearm, according to the bill.
'The goal of this legislation is simple: to ensure that our communities are safe places for our children to grow,' Kinkead wrote. 'This legislation is a common-sense solution with a broad base of support — in fact, the New England Journal of Medicine has reported that most American gun owners support going through law enforcement to receive a permit—and constitutional: a similar bill enacted in Maryland was upheld in federal court.'
Under this legislation, any individual denied a license is entitled to file an appeal by submitting a challenge to the Pennsylvania State Police within 30 days from the date of the denial.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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