Pennsylvania House passes legislation banning sale, transfer, and purchase of "ghost guns"

Measure passed 104 to 97

Measure passed 104 to 97

MICHAEL, WE’RE TALKING ABOUT FIREARMS THAT DON’T HAVE SERIAL NUMBERS. THEY’RE ASSEMBLED USING COMPONENTS THAT ARE PUT TOGETHER PRIVATELY, PERHAPS AT HOME, AND THEN THEY’RE NOT EASILY TRACEABLE TO THE PERSON WHO ORIGINALLY BOUGHT THEM. THE BILL ENDED UP PASSING ON NEARLY PARTY LINES, BUT THERE WAS PLENTY OF DEBATE. SUPPORTERS OF BANNING THE SALE AND PURCHASE OF GUNS AND PARTS WITHOUT SERIAL NUMBERS SAY NOT TAKING ACTION WILL ENABLE VIOLENT CRIMINALS WHO CAN’T SIMPLY BUY A GUN FROM A DEALER BECAUSE THEY WON’T PASS A BACKGROUND CHECK. DON’T PRINT IT IN YOUR BASEMENT. SELL IT ON THE BLACK MARKET BECAUSE YOU KNOW IT’S UNTRACEABLE AND THINK THAT’S COMMUNITY SAFETY. DON’T DO IT BECAUSE YOU THINK THAT’S WHAT THE FRAMERS OF THIS CONSTITUTION WANTED. ALL BUT ONE HOUSE DEMOCRAT VOTED FOR THE PROPOSED LAW, WHICH WOULD HIT VIOLATORS WITH A FELONY OFFENSE. IT’S ALL GOES BACK TO LAW ENFORCEMENT’S ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE AND MAKE SURE WE CATCH PERPETRATORS WHO ARE COMMITTING CRIMES WITH GUNS. PERIOD. POINT BLANK. BUT REPUBLICANS ARGUED THE BILL MAY INFRINGE UPON FIREARM AND PROPERTY RIGHTS. WHAT THEY SAY IS IN THE BILL IS ACTUALLY NOT WHAT HAPPENS. AND THE WORDING IS VERY IMPORTANT. ADDITIONALLY, IT’S ALREADY ILLEGAL TO SELL A FIREARM THAT WOULD BE MADE IN IN THE WAY THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO GO AFTER. SO WHAT WHAT WE REALLY HAVE IS A CASE OF THE EXISTING LAWS NEED TO BE ENFORCED. NOW, THIS LEGISLATION BUILDS OFF EFFORTS BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO TRY TO BRING THESE SO-CALLED GHOST GUNS UNDER SOME OF THE SCRUTINY THAT WE SEE WITH FIREARMS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THAT ARE USUALLY LEGALLY PURCHASED BY A DEALER, FOR INSTANCE. BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS BILL IS NOW GOING TO HEAD OVER TO THE STATE SENATE, WHICH IS CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICANS, WHO MAY NOT BE ALL THAT KEEN TO TAKE UP THE MEASURE. A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS SAID THAT THE LEADER POINTED OUT THERE ARE PLENTY OF FIREARM RESTRICTIONS AND LAWS ON THE BOOKS ALREADY IN

Pennsylvania House passes legislation banning sale, transfer, and purchase of "ghost guns"

Measure passed 104 to 97

A ban on the sale, purchase, and transfer of firearms and gun parts without serial numbers was approved in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on Wednesday, advancing a measure that gun control advocates believe will reduce violent crime.The measure passed by a 104 to 97 margin, with all but one Democrat and three Republicans voting in favor of the measure. It now heads to the state Senate, which is controlled by Republicans unlikely to approve to the proposed law.So-called “ghost guns” are firearms that don’t have serial numbers and are often assembled privately with components that may not have markings that could help identify the original purchaser, making them difficult to trace. The measure would criminalize the sale of firearms or firearm parts without serial numbers as a felony offense.It would also require firearms assembled after the law is enacted to be built with parts that have serial numbers when purchased."This all goes back to law enforcement's ability to investigate and make sure we catch perpetrators who are committing crimes with guns," said Rep. Justin Fleming, D-Dauphin County.Republicans argued during the debate for the measure that they believed it clashed with property and firearm rights.House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster County, said he worried how the measure would affect efforts to transfer firearms that may be family heirlooms or very old firearms."The reality is that guns made prior to 1968---many of them do not have serial numbers. This bill would make the simple act of inheriting a firearm from an ancestor, perhaps one that was brought back as a souvenir from World War II, a crime," he said.Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) lauded the vote and said in a statement on social media that he welcomed the House's decision."Ghost guns are dangerous, DIY weapons criminals can put together in their own home — and I've been fighting for legislation like this since I was Attorney General," he said in a tweet.But before it can reach his desk, it will have to clear the state Senate, where the majority leader did not say in a statement whether the measure would receive a vote."We remain steadfast in our ongoing support of law enforcement, leadership of school safety initiatives, and examination of ways to provide greater mental and behavioral health support to help protect our communities," said Sen. Joe Pittman, R-Indiana. "Pennsylvania currently has robust laws in place pertaining to guns, which must be enforced in every corner of our commonwealth."

The measure passed by a 104 to 97 margin, with all but one Democrat and three Republicans voting in favor of the measure. It now heads to the state Senate, which is controlled by Republicans unlikely to approve to the proposed law.

So-called “ghost guns” are firearms that don’t have serial numbers and are often assembled privately with components that may not have markings that could help identify the original purchaser, making them difficult to trace. The measure would criminalize the sale of firearms or firearm parts without serial numbers as a felony offense.

It would also require firearms assembled after the law is enacted to be built with parts that have serial numbers when purchased.

"This all goes back to law enforcement's ability to investigate and make sure we catch perpetrators who are committing crimes with guns," said Rep. Justin Fleming, D-Dauphin County.

Republicans argued during the debate for the measure that they believed it clashed with property and firearm rights.

House Republican Leader Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster County, said he worried how the measure would affect efforts to transfer firearms that may be family heirlooms or very old firearms.

"The reality is that guns made prior to 1968---many of them do not have serial numbers. This bill would make the simple act of inheriting a firearm from an ancestor, perhaps one that was brought back as a souvenir from World War II, a crime," he said.

Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) lauded the vote and said in a statement on social media that he welcomed the House's decision.

"Ghost guns are dangerous, DIY weapons criminals can put together in their own home — and I've been fighting for legislation like this since I was Attorney General," he said in a tweet.

But before it can reach his desk, it will have to clear the state Senate, where the majority leader did not say in a statement whether the measure would receive a vote.

"We remain steadfast in our ongoing support of law enforcement, leadership of school safety initiatives, and examination of ways to provide greater mental and behavioral health support to help protect our communities," said Sen. Joe Pittman, R-Indiana. "Pennsylvania currently has robust laws in place pertaining to guns, which must be enforced in every corner of our commonwealth."

Pennsylvania House passes legislation banning sale, transfer, and purchase of "ghost guns"

Measure passed 104 to 97

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