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State Senate backs bill to allow guns to be carried without permit

Jose F. Moreno / Philadelphia Inquirer

State Senate backs bill to allow guns to be carried without permit

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s state Senate on Tuesday approved two veto-bound firearms bills, including one to allow people to carry a loaded firearm openly or concealed, without a permit, and another to punish municipalities that impose firearms ordinances that are stricter than state law.

The bills passed with near-universal Republican support and backing from at least one Democrat. Republicans, meanwhile, blocked Democrats’ amendments, including one to end a background check exception for private sales of shotguns, sporting rifles and semi-automatic rifles.

The Republican-penned bills go the House of Representatives, which has already passed similar legislation on municipal ordinances. The Republican-controlled chamber has not moved on concealed-carry legislation.

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Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, has said he would veto the bills.

Pennsylvanians are generally allowed to openly carry loaded firearms, although the law is silent on it. Only in Philadelphia is a permit required for it.

But the legislation would remove Philadelphia’s open-carry permit requirement, as well as the state’s requirement for people to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon, including storing it in their car. People under 21 cannot get such a permit, although the law allows anyone 18 and older to own a gun.

The other bill would revive legislation long-sought by gun-rights organizations to expand standing in court to sue a municipality over a firearms ordinance and collect damages from a losing municipality.

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First Published: November 10, 2021, 2:31 a.m.

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 (Jose F. Moreno / Philadelphia Inquirer)
Jose F. Moreno / Philadelphia Inquirer
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