Some bills that are up for consideration in Harrisburg, courtesey, again, of Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs:
HB 1744 Caltagirone – (PN 2323) Amends Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) providing for a notice of limits on lending or transferring a handgun. Each purchaser of a firearm would receive a copy of a notice, to be promulgated by the Pennsylvania State Police, containing the information regarding limits on lending or transferring a handgun. The bill also states that the Joint State Government Commission would conduct a continuing study for the purpose of evaluating the extent to which multiple purchases of firearms by any individual during the period of the study are a contributing factor to the use of firearms in criminal activity. The bill adds that the Attorney General would have the authority to investigate and to institute criminal proceedings for any violation of this chapter. The Attorney General would be able to inspect or examine the inventory and records of a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer or licensed dealer without reasonable cause or warrant in certain cases.
This seems to me to be a worthless law. Any law that is not obvious enough that it requires notification probably should not be a law.
HB 41 Thomas – (PN 66) The Illegal Firearms Trafficking Act establishes the Bureau of Illegal Firearms Trafficking in the Office of the Attorney General. Duties of the bureau would include investigating potential violations of 18 Pa.C.S. (relating to crimes and offenses) relating to illegal firearms trafficking; and bringing prosecutions relating to illegal firearms trafficking. The Attorney General would receive complaints from individuals concerning illegal firearms trafficking and investigate and assist in county prosecutions relating to illegal firearms trafficking and, as necessary, coordinate with Federal, State and local law enforcement agencies in the investigation of similar crimes. Additionally, the Attorney General would annually report to the General Assembly detailing the activities engaged in by the bureau.
This is the one Philadelphia DA Lynn Abraham is wary of. You know how we talk about going after criminals? This proposal is mostly about that, but Philadelphia’s political leadership is opposed to it because it invades in on their territory. Better to go after gun owners than have the state AG threatening your turf eh?
HB 21 James – (PN 46) Amends Title 42 (Judiciary) further providing for bail by stating that the amount of bail fixed for any person charged with an offense committed while the person used or displayed a firearm would not be less than $50,000 unless special circumstances are presented.
Displaying or brandishing? There’s a difference. A lot of these bills I might be willing to talk about, but what is “displayed” and what is “offense”. If I have a pistol in my center console, and I get pulled over, am I subject to 50,000 bail if the officer, as the Supreme Court of the United States has permitted him to do, decides to arrest me formally?