The state House on Wednesday held a contentious debate related to so-called “ghost guns” – including conflicting statements on how Pennsylvania State Police felt about the issue – and then passed a bill to ban the purchase, sale and production of untraceable gun parts.
Soon afterward, Gov. Josh Shapiro posted a statement on social media that endorsed the bill. He called on the state Senate to pass it. “I’ve been fighting for legislation like this since I was attorney general,” Mr. Shapiro said in a post on X.
But the Republican majority leader in that chamber, Sen. Joe Pittman, R-Indiana, gave an unenthusiastic response when asked about the bill. His caucus, he said, supports law enforcement, school safety initiatives and looking at providing more behavioral or mental health supports, but “Pennsylvania currently has robust laws in place pertaining to guns.”
“Ghost guns” is a phrase that has been attached to guns made from unmarked parts or 3D-printed components. Bill sponsor Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Philadelphia, said they are becoming the “weapon of choice” of violent criminals and the bill’s goal was to limit access to them.
Republicans said the bill was unconstitutional, would make felons out of hobbyist gun owners and do nothing to stop criminals.
The bill passed on a 104-97 vote. All Democrats except for Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, voted in favor of the measure, and all but three Republicans were against it. Those three were Reps. Martina White of Philadelphia and Joe Hogan and Kathleen Tomlinson, both of Bucks County.
“The rhetoric stops today,” said Rep. Jordan Harris of Philadelphia. He indicated the bill was a big opportunity for Republicans who constantly talk about rampant crime in Philadelphia and who in 2022 voted to impeach District Attorney Larry Krasner.
“This is a real, tangible solution to address crime in Pennsylvania,” Mr. Harris said. “This is about simply now standing up and letting your vote meet your voice. Because for far too long people have been able to get away with rhetoric.”
Mr. Harris said that “the state police is in favor of this legislation.” Moments later, Ms. White said she had made “direct contact” with the state police and that “they are neutral on this legislation.”
State police spokespersons were not immediately available for comment.
One former police officer, Democratic Rep. Brian Munroe of Bucks County, said ghost guns were a threat to police and the legislation was sensible. But Republican Rep. Barry Jozwiak of Berks County, who was a state trooper for 26 years, spoke against it.
Mr. Jozwiak said criminals “are going to do what they want to do. That’s why we call them criminals.”
Before the final vote, House Republicans were defeated by a margin of one vote in an attempt to have the bill deemed unconstitutional.
Rep. Aaron Bernstine, R-Lawrence, said implementation would create “government serialization and tracking” of firearms parts that would infringe on citizens’ rights to bear firearms without interference from the government. Rep. Timothy Bonner, R-Mercer, said the nation’s founding fathers ranked the amendments within the Bill of Rights, and the right to bear arms was second only to freedom of speech, religion and association. “We cannot regulate homemade guns” under the U.S. constitution and court interpretations of it, Mr. Bonner said.
The Republican majority leader, Rep. Bryan Cutler of Lancaster County, said he knew the subject matter well.
“I have actually built my own firearms” and have been doing it for years, he said. A former speaker of the House, Mr. Cutler said he received death threats during his time in that post, and he has researched the law carefully on making guns.
The bill would create a felony offense for violators of the new provisions. Democrats, Mr. Cutler said, were “using bad facts and things that are already crimes” to push the bill through, and if enacted it would affect law-abiding citizens.
The House will not return to Harrisburg for a voting session until April 8.
Ford Turner: fturner@post-gazette.com
First Published: March 27, 2024, 9:41 p.m.
Updated: March 28, 2024, 7:23 p.m.
