Moving from FL to PA, Gun Laws Better in PA ???

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eric.cartman

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Well, I'm not moving just yet. But, I'm giving it a thought, and maybe move next year. I live in FL, and gun laws are great here.

So, would I be taking a hit moving to PA (far away from Philadelphia) ???
I know open carry is legal in PA. I know there is state preemption. I know there is no "stand your ground law".
Would my FL resident permit be good there until I got PA DL and CCW?
Is PA CCW easier to get? Time frame?

Please give me as much info as you can think of about the change in gun laws I would incur.

Thanks!!!
 
Re concealed carry, Pennsylvania is a SHALL ISSUE STATE, don't know about Florida.

No "training is required to obtain a concealed carry licsense in Pa. the fee for such license being $25 for 5 years. I believe Florida's fees are significantly highier, and I do not know how their requirement for "training" if they have one, works.

You might try Packing.org and or contact the State Attorney Generals office for more information.
 
Easier to get a permit in PA. No fingerprints, no classes. The permit is cheaper. Shall issue. Many, many fewer places off limits.

About the only thing that FL has over PA would be the extra reciprocity agreements... but you could always keep the FL permit to give you that... oh, and the "stand your ground law"... PA is working on that one.

I suggest you check it out here... http://www.handgunlaw.us/

Welcome to PA.
 
There is some controversy about 3rd party non-res permits. (IE: I live in state X, and have a non-resident permit from state Y with which PA reciprocity exists.) The AG says one thing, the SP says another. Caveat emptor.

On the whole PA is one of the most gun friendly states around. Easily in the top 5.
 
so how could i move to PA from FL, having FL CCW, and not loose the right to CCW for a day?
could I get the PA DL and CCW the same day I move?
I would hate to move and then have to wait 45 days for CWP.
 
PA may not necessarily be "easier" to get a CCW than FL. It is cheaper and faster in PA, but PA requires references; Philly wants the references to fill out forms and be Philly residents:http://www.ppdonline.org/hq_gunpermit.php.

PA sheriffs also have nearly unfettered discretion to revoke the permit, with a few people suing and winning because the sheriff didn't show that they posed a danger or showed instability. But they still had to fight. And one guy in Philly had his permit revoked after he brandished his gun to stop a homeless guy from hitting him with a club, losing on appeal to a city handgun permit board.
 
so how could i move to PA from FL, having FL CCW, and not loose the right to CCW for a day?
could I get the PA DL and CCW the same day I move?
I would hate to move and then have to wait 45 days for CWP.
Click to expand...

Click the link below send in the application you should have your PA permit before the end of the month.

Instructions

Completed and Signed Application must be accompanied by the following:

1. A photo copy of a license to carry a firearm (concealed carry permit) from your home state if that
state has a concealed carry law.
2. A photo copy of your Driver's License.
3. A self addressed stamped envelope.
4. $26.00 fee for five year license and out of state processing.

(Check/money order made out to Centre County Sheriff.)

Mail to:

Centre County Sheriff's Office
213 East High Street1
Bellefonte, PA 16823

PA CCW
 
eric.cartman said: so how could i move to PA from FL, having FL CCW, and not loose the right to CCW for a day?
Click to expand...

Easy. Get a PA permit now.

PA is easily one of the most gun friendly states in the U.S. Our Constitution is very clear on the right of the citizen to bear arms in self-defense. It's the very reason why PA doesn't have a training component. When the CCW license process was clarified statewide as shall-issue, the question of training came up. It was rejected because the attornies working on the issue felt it would loose if Constitutionally challenged.

One drawback is reciprocity. We don't have a statewide database of CCW permit holders, and that's a impediment to reciprocity. The local Sheriffs maintain that data. But overall, its a pretty good place regarding gun laws.

Taxes, infrastructure, and economy are another issue . . .
 
mrreynolds, bullfrog,

I assume that once I'm a PA resident, the renew process is easy, right?
Also, I assume that once I become PA resident, my non-res PA permit is still valid? Do I need to do an address change on it?
 
He is Pro 2A they should be able to answer those questions as I am not a PA resident.

Contact: Denny Nau, Sheriff

Centre County Sheriff
213 East High Street
Bellefonte PA 16823

Phone: (814) 355-6803
E-mail: [email protected]

Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday
 
You do understand the weather is totally different up in PA, right? Going from FL to PA might be a real shock to the system.

Here's a little factoid. I enlisted in the AF in 92. Our training 'flight' in basic constituted fully half it's recruits from...PA.
 
A few months before your 5 year permit is due to expire, the sheriff's office will send you a postcard stating so. Bring the postcard to the sheriff and they will renew on the spot.

There is no such thing as a non-resident PA permit. A permit is a permit.

I know of no requirement to change addresses after a move on the PA permit.
 
A lot the answers to your questions are easy to come by.

http://www.psp.state.pa.us/psp/cwp/browse.asp?a=15&bc=0&c=70426

http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/crime.aspx?id=184

http://www.pafoa.org/law/carrying-firearms/concealed-carry

The PAFOA has a specific discussion forum here:

http://www.pafoa.org/forum/



When I moved from one county to another, I asked the Sheriff's office of York County about getting a replacement license. He asked me why. I told him my address was no longer correct, and was concerned the license might no longer be valid. The Deputy responded, "A license issued by any Sheriff in PA is good anywhere in PA; don't worry about it until it expires. The postcard the Sheriff sends out from Franklin County probably won't reach you, so you'll have to remind yourself. But you don't need a new one."

Now, this opinion was from a Deputy working in that section of the Sheriff's Office, not a District Attorney or the Attorney General's office. But I felt it was enough for me to rely upon. I've had to produce my license once or twice, not one officer was concerned about the address other than to ask which one was current, my driver's license or my carry license. It appears PennDOT cares more about where I live than my Sheriff.


You have to remember PA is still backwards in many ways. My first carry permit was issued on a piece of paper, not laminated, and without a photo. There is no such thing as a PA non-resident permit. If you're concerned, ask the Sheriff of the county you reside when you move here. I imagine you'll get a similar response.
 
Just to corroborate coat4gun and BullFrogKen's comments, I've also inquired about getting the address changed on my PA permit after moving a couple times, and both times the sheriff's office said, "just change it when it's up for renewal. It's a PA permit."
 
coat4gun writes:

A few months before your 5 year permit is due to expire, the sheriff's office will send you a postcard stating so. Bring the postcard to the sheriff and they will renew on the spot.

----------------

There have been problems with this in Pittsburgh (Allegheny County). I'm really not sure concerning whether or not they have been corrected. The permittee/licensee is SUPPOSED to be notified, however this is something not always done.
 
PA issues permits for non-residents.

Good luck getting a reminder card from the sheriff. I've never known anyone to get one......even though it is written in the law that they are supposed to!
 
Cartman, whereabouts in PA are you moving? Some counties are quicker in issuing CCW Permits than others. If by chance you're moving to Centre County, you're in luck. It'll take you all of about 20 minutes.

All in all, PA is a good gun state, particularly if you're in the middle. Stay away from the cities. all the big cities are of course rabidly anti-gun. Philly speaks for itself and Pittsburgh's boy mayor is a pretty left-leaning anti as well.
 
But they still had to fight. And one guy in Philly had his permit revoked after he brandished his gun to stop a homeless guy from hitting him with a club, losing on appeal to a city handgun permit board.
Click to expand...

This board does not exist in PA. It would not be legally constituted. There's an entire procedure which discusses appeals of decisions to revoke, which is to the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas.
 
What ever happensed to HB 760?
Click to expand...
Still sitting in committee where it will eventually die an unceremonious death like every other gun control bill introduced here. There is a bill before the House now, HB1845, that adds some additional penalties for gun crimes. One of the big amendments that some of the antis were really pushing for in this bill was the Levdansky Amendment which would require handgun owners to report within 48 hrs if a gun is lost or stolen. It got axed on 4/1, 128-75.
 
I live in Bucks Co. and it a fairly friendly county. From what I understand the sheriff is pretty NFA friendly too, though I haven't tested that my self.

Keep in mind that while we have de facto open carry here except in cities of the first class (Philly); were you need a permit to carry and gun and their is a prohibition on carrying long arms. The laws governing firearms in PA are found in PA Title 18. I'd read the whole text which can be found through the NRA/ILA website.

That being said (the cancer that can be) Philadelphia is moving into lower Bucks and a lot of libs from NJ and NY are moving in. I am always wary that things could change here.

What county are you moving too?
 
Click the link below send in the application you should have your PA permit before the end of the month.

Instructions

Completed and Signed Application must be accompanied by the following:

1. A photo copy of a license to carry a firearm (concealed carry permit) from your home state if that
state has a concealed carry law.
2. A photo copy of your Driver's License.
3. A self addressed stamped envelope.
4. $26.00 fee for five year license and out of state processing.

(Check/money order made out to Centre County Sheriff.)

Mail to:

Centre County Sheriff's Office
213 East High Street1
Bellefonte, PA 16823

PA CCW
Click to expand...

Thanks!
I just mailed the app today! I included the app, copy of DL and CWP, and a check. Nothing was mentioned about a picture, so I assume PA CWP is like NH, no pic.

To answer other questions... I'm not moving just yet. I'm thinking about it. I would like to be closer to my family in NJ, but not live in NJ/NY etc.
 
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