PA carry locations

[mek42]

I've tried searching for PA law that defines where my PA (non-resident) License to Carry Firearms is not valid (i.e. courthouses, schools, etc) and have failed miserably. I even read through the Firearms section of the PA criminal law section to no avail. I'm not from PA and was wondering if someone could please post a link to this information.

Thanks!

 

[Rumble]

Try www.handgunlaw.us - in the left column, it has links to off-limits locations.

 

[geekWithA.45]

You're not finding much info because there simply aren't that many off limit places. You see, in PA, the Right of the People To Keep and Bear Arms For the Defense of Themselves and Their State Shall Not Be Questioned.

Here's the short list:

-Courtrooms and judge's chambers...by law they must offer secure storage at the door. Some courthouses scoff at this law.

-Casinos
-K-12 schools*
-State parks**

The Allegheny county airport thing is not consistent with state pre-emption, which prohibits political subdivisions from having any say on issues of posession. I don't know what, if anything, the courts have said on that.

* There is a lawful purposes exemption language in the statute that has not been well tested in court. As they say, the possibility of prosecution exists.

** Again, an ambiguity and conflict in the law exists that has not been clarified in court. The practical standing is that if you are discovered to be armed in a state park, you will be asked to leave. If you do not do so immediately, you will be charged with criminal trespass.

 

[v35]

-Courtrooms and judge's chambers...by law they must offer secure storage at the door.

The courthouse in Doylestown offers secure storage but last time I went there all the lockers were in use.

All I wanted to store was my Swiss army knife.

 

[Colt]

* There is a lawful purposes exemption language in the statute that has not been well tested in court. As they say, the possibility of prosecution exists.

I've wondered about CCW in schools. I'm guessing your legal defense would be the "lawful purpose" you carried on school grounds was self defense?

 

[Car Knocker]

Concealed carry, in and of itself, is a "lawful purpose" authorized by the state, evidenced by the issuance of a permit.

 

[chetth]

Concealed carry, in and of itself, is a "lawful purpose" authorized by the state, evidenced by the issuance of a permit.

This is why I think you should specify 'self defense' on you PA LTCF applicaiton, because it then appears on your license that you are carrying for a constitutionally protected reason.

 

[Steve in PA]

The license is good for ALL reasons, not just the one you selected.

 

[mek42]

Mine does say "Self-Defense" on the license itself. I selected SD and target shooting.

Thanks for the replies - it's comforting and confusing all at once finding out that I don't need to read several pages of statutes and case law to find where I can and cannot legally carry concealed.

 

[Airman193SOS]

If you ever want to know anything about Pennsylvania firearms laws, look at the PA Uniform Firearms Act, seen here.

 

[mnw42]

NRA/ILA Quick Sheet

http://www.nraila.org/statelawpdfs/PASL.pdf

 

[SJG26]

A fuzzy area -

"§912. Possession of Weapon on School Property.

(a) Definition.—Notwithstanding the definition of “weapon” in section 907 (relating to possessing instruments of crime), “weapon” for purposes of this section shall include but not be limited to any knife, cutting instrument, cutting tool, nun-chuck stick, firearm, shotgun, rifle and any other tool, instrument or implement capable of inflicting serious bodily injury.

(b) Offense defined.—A person commits a misdemeanor of the first degree if he possesses a weapon in the buildings of, on the grounds of, or in any conveyance providing transportation to or from any elementary or secondary publicly-funded educational institution, any elementary or secondary private school licensed by the Department of Education or any elementary or secondary parochial school.

(c) Defense—It shall be a defense that the weapon is pos*sessed and used in conjunction with a lawful supervised school activity or course or is possessed for other lawful purpose

As noted above - State issued permit for self-defence IS a lawful purpose - who will be a test case??

 

[SMMAssociates]

Some of this doesn't apply in Philadelphia. At least they don't think so....

Allegheny County's Airport (PIT) has very poor signage on the non-sterile entrances.

My own IANAL (and OH resident) take is that you could make a fairly good case for carrying in "Baggage", for example. The "Sterile" area would be a really bad idea.... I haven't tested that one yet.... (I'm up at CLE more often. The parking deck is posted.... I think my very anti sister knows that .)

Regards,