Thinking of moving to Pennsylvania

I've been a Pennsylvania resident all my life and live just outside of Philadelphila (Phila. is separate county in Pa.). You do not need a FFL license to possess either handguns and long guns you already possess.You do have th FFl instant check process to buy any legal firearm long or short. Most counties in Pa have the shall issue concealed weapons permit if you pass the background check. I understand that it may be a bit more difficult to obtain a CCW in Phila. but since i don't live in that county I can't say for certain. Most counties will issue you a CCW within one day and is done in the county sheriff's dept. where you indend to live. Can't comment on rifle ranges since I don't know what area you'moving into. Pa. also supports the Castle law as far as defending yourself vs retreating. Feel free to contact me if you need more information.

I belong to a couple of gun clubs. The yearly membership for both is 45.00.

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I’m in southeast PA. What area are you considering?

Some areas of PA are very gun friendly and some are not. Philly would be in the second category.

Here in central PA where I live the carry permits are cheap and easy to get and I have access to numerous ranges at reasonable costs.

Do you have a specific area in mind?

I have a home in Luzerne Co. I am two miles from an outdoor PGC rifle and pistol range. I am a member at the North Mt. Sportsmans Assoc......about 20 miles west.....rifle, pistol, Trap (both ATA and International), Skeet and CAS.
Moved here 20 years ago from NYC.....brought my guns with me. Bought more when I got here. No regrets...

I have been a PA resident all my life. Compared to NY it is a gun lover’s paradise. Can’t advise in ranges without knowing your location, but there are lots of gun owners here so there are quite a few ranges. The State also has some ranges connected to state game lands.

This link will take you to a summary of PA firearms laws: https://handgunlaw.us/states/pennsylvania.pdf

Obtaining a License to Carry Firearms is relatively easy. You do it through through a written application the the county sheriff. In my county (Delaware) the cost is $20 for 5 year permit. I’d you can pass a NICS check you are almost assure your permit will be approved.

PA is surrounded by NY, NJ, DE, MD, OH. Only Ohio recognizes a PA permit. DE recognizes AZ non-resident permits. I live 3 miles from DE so I go there often. Accordingly. I have the AZ permit.

If you are coming to SE PA. PM me. I can share a lot of resources info with you.

Semper Fi (I have been there,)

Probably the most liberal gun state I've ever lived in, and I move around.

In Allegheny County (Pittsburgh area) it's not hard to get a CCW, but it does ask for two references. I spent more time parking than I did actually waiting in line for my license, which was issued on the spot.

Unlike anywhere else I've lived, there's no such thing as a legally posted area, other than (IIRC) hospitals and courthouses; elsewhere people can put up "no guns" signs and you can just ignore them.

You can legally carry--open or concealed--in a bar, and even drink while carrying, or smoke THC if you can get a MM card -- not that it's wise to do so of course.

All gun sales, including private face-to-face, are supposed to go through an FFL for background check.

Great bend, halstead area has a 700 yd rifle range they recently put in. Halstead rod and gun club.

I moved from PA to AL. AL is a much better state for guns. PA has the likes of Gov Wolf.

LI born and raised and believe me short of CA moving to PA is a nice upgrade, not only for gun rights but taxes. Wife is from the Pittsburg area so frequent PA visits. PA is definitely an upgrade in life.

Ron

Despite the fact that the PA Governor is a progressive, the legislature is still firearm friendly. Surprisingly, it's not too bad in PA to purchase a gun. Even though we have a Democrat Sheriff in our town, he still is quick to issue a carry permit. At a reasonable fee. As long as things don't change, it's cool.

Pennsylvania has been described as Pittsburgh on one end, Philadelphia on the other and Alabama in between. If that's accurate, I think I'd like Alabama, because I much prefer the in between parts.

Pike County is about 1.5 hurs NE from me, I'm in Lehigh County. Pike is mostly forrested. The big town, I think is Milford. It is a beautiful place but does get tourists in the summer, especially Milford. It wants to be an artsy fartsy kind of place. A gun store right off the I-84 if you use the RT 6 exit on top of the mountain. Can't help on the rifle range. Owning and using firearms will seem like a breath of fresh air after NY.

I live just across the water from Milford in New York. There's 4 main gun shops in Milford I frequent, there are a lot of people during the summer but never seems to be a problem. I do wish I had the means to move into pa.

Blackgong I believe is talking about atlas arsenal, a nice little shop they normally have stuff in stock even now. The guys working there can be a little Grouchy tho.

TF,

You're right, that fun store is Atlas Arsenal. Stopped there a year ago to check it out and walked out with a Remington TAC 14 20 GA pump. Pure impulse buy. Can't say about the mood of the salesman, seemed happy when I said, "I'll take it". I didn't know there were 3 other gun shops in Milford. The one that used to be on the main drag that closed was the best. I guess I need to google Milford. I know there is one, or used to be, in Matamoras. I used to get up there a couple of times a year but that won't happen anymore.

blackgang said:

TF,

You're right, that fun store is Atlas Arsenal. Stopped there a year ago to check it out and walked out with a Remington TAC 14 20 GA pump. Pure impulse buy. Can't say about the mood of the salesman, seemed happy when I said, "I'll take it". I didn't know there were 3 other gun shops in Milford. The one that used to be on the main drag that closed was the best. I guess I need to google Milford. I know there is one, or used to be, in Matamoras. I used to get up there a couple of times a year but that won't happen anymore.

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There keystone arm at the bridge in matamoras, ok shop pricey. He does own the rights to the reising machine guns. Just out of the center of Milford there's a shop, can't remember the name, it's over by the creek were the mill used to be. Mill is in the name. Nice guy with good prices when he has stuff, he's not there to often tho.

Patriot arsenal is right out of town by the tractor supply, nice guy good prices but don't think he has fully reopened yet. There's probably more around I don't know off, seems no one advertises and guys keep shops a secret probably so they can get more stuff.

Pittsburgh Backs Philly's Lawsuit Seeking To Overturn Preemption – Bearing Arms

Pittsburgh Mayor, City Council Happy to Spend Taxpayer Money Fighting State Preemption Law - The Truth About Guns

This is the ideology of the mayors of the two major urban centers of PA. And the PA governor seems to approve?

Yeah, they're Democrats toeing the party line. The dems have it made. They keep selling the same load, they've been in office in Philly for over 50 years and nothing changes. Probably about the same in Pittsburgh. Once you have the two big cities in PA, the rest of the states' vote doesn't matter. Used to be if it rained on election day, the Dems lost. Mail in ballots work against that dynamic.

Pudge:
"..Pittsburgh...Philly....Alabama in between". I like that.

But I've never heard any dialect in Alabama such as "Was is dei naame - wie alt bischt du?"

It's such a beautiful state in general. You guys/gals are fortunate that most gun laws are better than in some other areas north, east, southeast of PA.

Another pa resident here. Pike county is a great area. I'm in northern Monroe county, just south of Pike. Lots of nice wooded areas in Pike county. There are a few public ranges, 1 is on rt6 by Tafton another is by Tobyhanna off rt 423. You either need a hunting license or range permit to use them. I believe there is an indoor range or 2 near Honesdale, another indoor pistol range in Stroudsburg. Here in Monroe, most of the land was bought up, subdivided and sold off to the ny/nj transplants. Stay away from the Mount Pocono/Tobyhanna areas of Monroe county if you're looking to buy.

TinNePa said:

Another pa resident here. Pike county is a great area. I'm in northern Monroe county, just south of Pike. Lots of nice wooded areas in Pike county. There are a few public ranges, 1 is on rt6 by Tafton another is by Tobyhanna off rt 423. You either need a hunting license or range permit to use them. I believe there is an indoor range or 2 near Honesdale, another indoor pistol range in Stroudsburg. Here in Monroe, most of the land was bought up, subdivided and sold off to the ny/nj transplants. Stay away from the Mount Pocono/Tobyhanna areas of Monroe county if you're looking to buy.

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do you know if out of state shooters can use the ranges, I see I'm 40 minutes away from the range by tafton. I've been wanting to get my pa hunting and fishing licence for year but it gets expensive.

Ignition Override said:

Pudge:
"..Pittsburgh...Philly....Alabama in between". I like that.

But I've never heard any dialect in Alabama such as "Was is dei naame - wie alt bischt du?"

It's such a beautiful state in general. You guys/gals are fortunate that most gun laws are better than in some other areas north, east, southeast of PA.

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Yeah, yinz guys in Alabama probably don't drink pop with your hoagies either.