Moving From CA to PA: New Purchases?

[Sleepnosis]

Hi,
I'm being liberated from PRK and emigrating to the free state of Pennsylvania . How soon may I purchase a firearm there (not waiting period, just state established residency)? How soon may I purchase a firearm that is banned in California, in my new home state of Penn? I leave next week, and have no plans to return to California.

I'm hoping the shadow of PRK's rainbow curtain, won't continue to smother me any longer than it has to.

Thanks in advance,
-Mark

 

[Jim PHL]

Welcome Sleep and congratulations on your escape. PA is very gun-friendly. Once you've established residency, you can walk into any gun shop and, after passing the NICS check, purchase and walk out with any legal firearm. Legal firearms in PA are of the broadest definition, as opposed to Kali's approved list. By broadest definition I mean if it is legal for sale anywhere in the US, it's legal for sale in PA. (No full auto, legal barrel lengths on shotguns, no "sawed-offs", etc.) If I am not mistaken, you can establish residency by taking your valid Kali driver's license, with some additional proof of new residency (pay-stub or utility bills in your name-confirm it for yourself in advance) to a PA driver's license center and obtaining a PA driver's license. Once you have that ID, that's all the ID you need to make a purchase. If you are moving to the Philadelphia area I can steer you to a few good shops.

Jim

 

[Dave Markowitz]

To clarify what Jim PHL said, PA DOES allow Class III firearms and suppressors, if purchased in accordance with Federal law.

Welcome to the USA!

 

[Sleepnosis]

Thanks for the quick replies and warm welcomes.

Because you mentioned it, I AM, in fact moving to Philadelphia.

Aahh Freedom

So just to clarify, how long does "Official" establishing residency take. When do the utility bills have to date back to? a month? two? three? Is there a defined period?

Can't I just have my new doctor write me a prescription?

Thanks,
-Mark

 

[OEF_VET]

I have no idea if PA is the same or even remotely close to TN in as much as the laws regarding establishing residency, but here, it's real easy. Once you sign a lease, you can take that to the DMV and get a driver's license and, viola, you're now a resident.

Heck, theoretically, you could sign a lease for an apartment via snail mail and then, as soon as you drive into the state you could stop at the first DMV office you find and get a driver's license. Your next stop could be the nearest gun-monger to pick up all of the EBR's and non-CA approved pistols your heart could desire.

Check out the PA page on www.packing.org . I'm pretty sure you could look there and find the answers toany question you could have, although you may have to do some searching.

HTH,
Frank

 

[caseydog]

Lemme see , you take your Cali drivers license and one other form of "official" ID , that can be a voter registration card , vehicle registration , military ID , School ID card,birth certificate, pretty much anything official that establishes you are who you say you are (license fraud prevention). Also take something that confirms your new address , lease agreement , school enrollment or something.

When you go to the PA photo center there should be 2 rooms , one for photo's and 1 for everything else , go to the everything else one first and give them your Cali license and any other requested ID , they'll enter you in the computer and print you a photo card and tell you to go to the other room , where the put the photo card in the camera and take a mugshot , in about 5 minutes your license comes out and they call you over to approve it .

Now leave the photo center and take your newly issued purchase pass to a gunstore and give it a whirl , fill out the 4473 and the PICS check form and when approved ,pay for your purchase and take it home. Don't forget ammo.

I'm not sure what the waiting period is for CCW (if any) but a quick call to the county sherrif will get that info as PA is "shall issue" , unless you move into Philly proper(city limits), then the POlice chief has a hand in it.

Welcome to PA ! We need more right minded folks down in the Philly area as it has gone lefty liberal on us.

The old PA slogan signs used to be posted where you entered the state from MD , NJ and NY , our old slogan was "Welcome to PA , America Starts Here !" Fitting 'eh ?

Ray

 

[Diggler]

Sleepnosis

Where are you moving to in PA?

 

[Otherguy Overby]

Driver license

Has something changed?

I can't ever recall having to supplimental ID to make a change to a DL, or apply for one in another state. And this is for a CDL with ALL the endorsements. My current DL has had the street address changed about three times, but the mailing address hasn't changed (PO box). And yes, I do know they are getting paranoid about PO Box registrations, I have had vehicles registered to a PO Box with no street address. No more PO box only, now. I spend much of the year in an RV, BTW.

I know something has changed regarding HAZMAT endorsements, but I've not yet had to renew. I'll probably let that endorsement lapse. BTW, I must be on some kind of list(s) somewhere. I've a commercial pilot license, a CCW from guess where, a CDL (still with the HAZMAT), a state teaching certificate and am an honorably discharged vet. Most all my NICS checks are delayed... ***?

I travel a lot and have residences in two states and property in a third. I currently have vehicles registered in three states and at one time had a vehicle titled in one state and registered in another.

At no time was I ever asked for any substantiation. Just fill out the forms, put down an address and a mailing address if different.

The only time I had any difficulty was with trying to register a vehicle I'd bought from a private party in California. CA wouldn't allow me to transfer the title into my name because I didn't have a CA DL. So I just made a phone call, dropped it all in the mail and had everything taken care of in another state.

 

[UltimaSE]

If you have say 60-90 days before you move, you might want to looking applying for Florida's non-resident ccw.

Philadelphia ccw is shall issue but from all the searches it seems as though philadelphia drags their feet in issuing, to the tune of about 6 months. Now the law says they have to issue within 45 days, philadelphia interprets this as "well we're not refusing you, we're just backlogged, we don't have enough manpower." This is technically illegal, but I believe a poster did write a letter to the AG of the state and they seemed to wave it off. Not enough people making noise I guess..

If you move to any of the surrounding counties they are quite a bit more friendly and issuing is easier, say a couple of weeks.

Now back to Florida, Florida has reprocity with Penn, along with probably several of the states you will be passing through in your move. I should have done this when I made the trip.

I'm currently waiting on Florida to come back, I think it's been about 2 weeks so far...

Jim PHL, if you don't mind, I wouldn't mind knowing some of these nice shops in the philadelphia area...

UltimaSE

 

[Jim PHL]

Philadelphia CCW

To get a "Pennsylavania License to Carry Firearms" you need to go to your county courthouse. Philly is one of what I believe the very few cities in the US which is also a county, with identical boundaries. It is handled here by the police, not the sheriff but my two experiences were not as bad as many others have reported. Two experiences, because upon expiry, you do not renew, you apply for a new one, and the fact you already have one doesn't help you. For those of you Philly guys whose five years are coming to a close, apply for a new one about two months ahead of time and you shouldn't have any "down time". You have to pick them up in person and they'll make you turn in your old one. In Philly you need to supply two passport-style photos, PA driver's license, $19 and be prepared to provide two references. The waiting is the hardest part.

Try Mike and Kate's Sport shop on Oxford Avenue in the Northeast. Not always the absolute cheapest but I don't think I've ever seen them more than 10 bucks or so higher than his competition on any standard in stock gun. And they're usually right at the common price you're likely to see or even a little less. Plenty of both new and used handguns and a decent selection of long guns, too. Mike Sr. and Mike Jr. are good guys to talk to and very knowledgable.

Locks has lots of everything but can be a little pricey. They do 'smithing on the premises, including custom 1911 work and have been in their present location for a lot of years. Lots of guns and accesories in stock.

Shooter's Shop on Allegheny Ave tends to have more of the cheaper stuff. I don't have much experience with them. No really bad experiences but I've never bought anything there.

Surplus City on Bustleton Pike in Feasterville is a good place, too. Although they tend to get impatient with shoppers they don't know. ALso a large selection of new and used at good prices. They're good people if you are a customer and not just a looker.

Classic Pistol in Southampton is the nicest indoor range I've ever been in. Their prices on new handguns varies from cheapest I've seen to "how can they posibly charge that much?" If you know what you're talking about you can get a good deal. Clean, well lit, well vented range.
(Good "date" range.)

Britt's (also listed as "Security Programs, Inc. on Blakiston St.) in Philly has an indoor range. Low cost range time but not the cleanest, neatest place you'll ever visit. They recently started requiring you to purchase any ammo you will be shooting there from them. They usually have a good selection of handguns and some long. Mostly used and/or consignment. Jack Britt is also a very good guy.

My choice is Mike and Kate's. The only gun I've bought in the last 5 or 6 years that I didn't buy from them I bought online and they handled the transfer. Tell them JIM PLUS 10 sent you.

(Sorry for the "book". I guess I got carries away.)

 

[Sleepnosis]

Wow that is very helpful information.

Thank you all for the help.

-Mark

 

[SodiumBenzoate]

Be glad the state passed the Uniform Firearms Act. It's the only thing keeping EBRs, handguns, and concealed carry legal in Philly.

Be sure to check out the various historical sites in the city, most of them are fairly quick to get into, as long as you do it around 10AM... From what I've noticed on trips there, the lines are fairly short, as long as you get there on a weekday, before noon. Once the lines get long, you could be waiting for a couple hours.

There's this really neat place in Center City (a misnomer, Center City is actually in South Phily), near the Convention Center. It's called the Reading Terminal Market. Not surprisingly, it's under the old Reading Terminal (no longer used for trains... Interesting place to visit). It is basically one HUGE room (takes up a whole block) filled with restaurants, delis, butchers, fish stores, bakeries, etc.

 

[P95Carry]

Sleep - welcome in advance ..... you've had some great info already, which hopefully will make your transition even easier.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Surplus City on Bustleton Pike in Feasterville is a good place, too. Although they tend to get impatient with shoppers they don't know. ALso a large selection of new and used at good prices. They're good people if you are a customer and not just a looker.

Between RON in PA and myself, we probably keep them in business.

Guess where I'll be Tuesday night.

 

[jwmoore]

Surplus City on Bustleton Pike in Feasterville

I've passed by there on occasion - I work right around the corner. I'll have to stop in.

I'll second the comments about Classic Pistol. Great place to shoot - check it out at http://www.classicpistol.com I think their selection leaves something to be desired, but I'm a regular none the less.

I also like Tanner's Sport Center on York Rd in Jamison. Great selection, knowledgable staff. No range, though.

~W

 

[SodiumBenzoate]

I also like Tanner's Sport Center on York Rd in Jamison. Great selection, knowledgable staff. No range, though.

Some EBRs, as well, which should be a nice change from CA.

 

[Rocko]

Has something changed?

I can't ever recall having to supplimental ID to make a change to a DL, or apply for one in another state. And this is for a CDL with ALL the endorsements. My current DL has had the street address changed about three times, but the mailing address hasn't changed (PO box). And yes, I do know they are getting paranoid about PO Box registrations, I have had vehicles registered to a PO Box with no street address. No more PO box only, now. I spend much of the year in an RV, BTW.

For renewals, yes - I figure it may be the same with any other photo card. They won't just accept the old license anymore, then want your SS card too. I didn't find this out until after I was in line to renew mine in may - and of course, I guess I lost my SS card.

The "funny" thing was that all I needed to get my SS card was my old license. So, all I needed to get the document that PA would accept for DL renewal, was the document that they wouldn't accept. Seems kinda circular, eh?

Rocko

 

[Partisan Ranger]

Returning to America is such a good feeling. Welcome!

 

[700ltr]

I have a ccw that I got in Cameron county, Pa.We are a small county with a small population. They had a artical in the paper that said we have the highest CCW in the state per capita.The first time I applied for the ccw I was figuring it would take awhile.I went with the make and model of my pistol, a photo ID, and a couple reasons as to why I need a ccw.I walked into the sheriffs ofiice and said I need to make an appointment to see the sheriff so I can apply for a ccw.There was ayoung lady sitting at the desk and she handed me an application and said fill this out.I handed it back to her completed and she said they would call me.2 days later she called and said my CCw was ready!!!! I said don't I need to meet with the sheriff??You don't need my photo, make of handgun(Kimber 45)you don't need any of these???? She said it's my right to have a ccw and all they do is have the state police run a check on you and if it comes back OK then you get the permit.2 DAYS AND I HAD MY PERMIT!!! I'm going to be moving about 30 miles in a couple months and will let you know how elk county is about issueing CCW.

 

[jwmoore]

She said it's my right to have a ccw and all they do is have the state police run a check on you and if it comes back OK then you get the permit.2 DAYS AND I HAD MY PERMIT!!!

Wow, what took so long?

I got mine while I lived in Union county. It took 20 minutes, 15 of which was spent fussing with the card printer. Instant PICS check is great.

~W

 

[Kharn]

Just walk into a gunshop after you get your PA license, throw your highest-limit credit card on the counter and say "I just moved here from Kali. I want one of every weapon banned there." They'll take care of you.

I hope your credit limit is really, really high.

Kharn