Pennsylvania has fewer gun control laws and higher rates of gun death than our neighboring states of New York and New Jersey. New York and New Jersey have banned certain semi-automatic weapons and high capacity magazines in addition to enacting state laws mandating universal background checks for sellers. New York and New Jersey also have lower rates of gun death. In 2016, New York and New Jersey witnessed 4.4 deaths and 5.5 deaths per 100,000 people respectively. PA witnessed 12 deaths per 100,000 people in 2016.

Pennsylvania does not require background checks for every gun sale. PA requires firearm dealers to conduct a background check on potential buyers purchasing from a licensed seller and all handgun sales must go through a licensed seller or a county sheriff’s office, and include a background check. However, this law does not apply to semi-automatic rifles or other rifles and shotguns during unlicensed sales. Individuals who have been convicted of a violent crime, declared mentally ill by the court, and are subject to an active protection from abuse order are prohibited from purchasing a handgun.

Pennsylvania has an automatic prohibition on purchasing or possessing firearms from individuals charged with domestic violence. Pennsylvania law, Act 79, mandates individuals convicted of domestic abuse to relinquish weapons within 24 hours for all cases adjudicated by a judge.

Pennsylvania does not allow for the temporary removal of firearms from those who pose a risk to themselves or others, or an Extreme Risk Protection Order. These have been shown to decrease suicides and have the potential to avert mass shootings.

Pennsylvania does not require firearm owners to have a license. Federal law does not require firearm owners to have a license. Only three states (New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts) require firearm owners to have a license.

Pennsylvania prohibits gun purchases from people who have three or more driving under the influence (DUI) convictions within 5 years. The current law, however, does not prohibit gun possession for this group. People with DUI convictions are four to five times more likely to be arrested for violent or firearm-related crimes in the next two decades.

Pennsylvania law prevents law enforcement agencies from having firearm registries. Federal law does not require firearm owners to register their firearm. Five states have a firearm registry: California, Hawaii, Maryland, New York and the District of Columbia. PA records handgun sales in a state database. However, the database does not track sales of long guns (such as shotguns or assault rifles). Currently, section 6111.4 of PA law states that no government or law agency may maintain or operate a firearm registry.

Pennsylvania controls the right of Philadelphians to “open carry” and “concealed carry” guns. A person can “open carry” a gun, such as wearing it in a holster, or on a belt without a permit everywhere in Pennsylvania except in Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, a permit is required to carry a gun or transport one in a vehicle.

Pennsylvania does not prohibit assault weapons. Assault weapons are defined differently. Different definitions lead to states banning different guns. For example, California bans around 75 “assault” weapon types, and New Jersey bans around 65. Assault weapons have been used in some of the deadliest mass shootings in the United States including the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida in 2016, which left 49 dead and 53 injured, and in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Connecticut (28 dead, 2 injured).

Gun laws in Pennsylvania make it easy to buy and traffic guns. In recent years, more trafficked guns have been coming from Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is a popular choice for gun purchasers due to its proximity to I-95 and to states with stricter gun laws (New York and New Jersey). From 2012 to 2014, Pennsylvania ranked eighth for highest number of guns exported to other states and recovered in crimes, with a total of 5,844 such guns. States like Virginia have limited handgun purchases to one per month, and reduced interstate gun trafficking by 35-70 percent. In addition, over half of gun owners store some or all of their guns unsafely (unlocked or loaded). This can pose a risk to those in the home and also contribute to guns being diverted to the underground market.