The National Rifle Association filed suit this week against Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Lancaster, claiming these cities' local gun ordinances defy state law. These lawsuits are made possible by new state legislation that took effect last week.

The NRA's outside counsel Jonathan Goldstein said under state law, local governments have been barred from enacting gun control laws for decades—but they've been doing it anyway.

"We think that the state legislature has been clear that it and it alone reserves the right to regulate firearms," said Goldstein. "These municipalities have delegated authority from the general assembly and they're exceeding that authority."

Read a full version of this report at the website of Keystone Crossroads, a new statewide public media initiative reporting on the challenges facing Pennsylvania's cities.