PA residents: tell me about your gun laws.

[Alan Fud]

After living for nearly four years in the hot Florida swamps, it looks like we will be returning to a colder climate but instead of going back to NJ where we originally came from, we plan to move across the river to the more gun friendly state of PA. Just curious how the gun laws in PA compare to FL ...

1. Home - Florida has something called the "Castle Doctrine" which basicly states, unlike other states such as NJ where you have to exhaust all escape possibilities before using deadly force, the state of Florida does not require you to retreat in your home or place of business. What about PA?
   
2. Private Property - With a valid CCW license, a person can enter any non-restricted area (school, post office, government property, sporting events, etc.) even if there are signs saying that firearms are forbidden. If discovered, the only thing that the property owner can do is ask you to leave ... if you don't leave, then you can be charged with trespassing. How does PA compare to this?
   
3. Churches - With a valid CCW license, there are no restrictions. How about PA?
   
4. Schools - Not allowed. How about PA?
   
5. Purchases - With a valid CCW license, there is no waiting period when buying a gun. Just walk in. Fill out the paperwork. Pay for the transaction and walk out the door with the gun. How about PA?

Anything else I need to know to keep myself from accidentially breaking any gun laws when I move to PA?

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[Steve in PA]

Private property is private property...........if they want to ban you from carrying your weapon......its banned. I don't agree with it, but its private remember......they can always ask you to leave.

School, post office........government property........I suggest if you do carry........don't get caught. How can they be non-restricted??? No exceptions to the above mentioned places. Oh, they may ask you to leave.......but if there were signs, more than likely you'd be talking to the man!!!

 

[SodaPop]

Purchases - With a valid CCW license, there is no waiting period when buying a gun. Just walk in. Fill out the paperwork. Pay for the transaction and walk out the door with the gun. How about PA?

Alan-having a CCW doesn't have any affect on waiting periods because we don't have waiting periods anymore. They do the background check over the phone and you can walk out the door in about 15minutes.

Where in PA are you moving?

 

[Alan Fud]

Looking for something near the Jersey line ... either near 78 or 202. Looked at Bucks county but things are a bit pricey. So now considering things in or around Easton, Forks, etc.

 

[SodaPop]

Chester County has lower taxes than most of the areas around me. Its not too far from NJ.

PA is a gun friendly State. Philadelphia got spanked for violating CCW issueing rules a few years ago, so things are pretty good now.

 

[Mike Irwin]

Pennsylvania is generally a very gun friendly state.

Shall-issue CCW, pre-emption laws to prevent Philly & Pittsburgh from passing restrictive laws, etc.

Generally a pretty good place to live.

Stick with the center of the state if you can.

 

[Kharn]

PA has the highest number (or is it concentration?) of Special Occupational Taxpayers in the country, ie: the guys that can get or make new machine guns. I bet most of them do rentals. Enjoy.

Kharn

 

[Spackler]

Stick with the center of the state if you can.

I certainly agree with that statement.

Carry in a court facility is prohibited. Signs that firearms are prohibited are required to be posted at courthouse entrances and the county has to provide facilities for checking firearms.

Carrying is prohibited in state parks (there are some exceptions, such as areas approved for hunting and state range areas).

PA law states that carry is prohibited in elementary and secondary school buildings/grounds.

 

[AK103K]

PA law states that carry is prohibited in elementary and secondary school buildings/grounds.

§ 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 possessed and used in conjunction with a lawful supervised school activity or course or is possessed for other lawful purpose.

This same basic disclaimer is also in the federal laws as to post offices, federal buildings, etc. Seems to me, if your not breaking the law and have permit to carry, this fits.

 

[TheLastBoyScout]

I live in Montco and shoot/work in Bucks.
As far as laws go, in this part of the state. carry hasn't really caught on to the point that churches, private property owners etc have decided to do anything about it. It's pretty sheeple where I live, relatively close in to the city.
Law wise, the other guys have this nailed, but email me if you have any other questions about this area.

 

[P95Carry]

Alan ....... most bases have been covered . and seems like you favor NE area. However, if you want any further inf from my part .. (not too far from I 99 / Turnpike intersection) give a shout.

My county is pretty good .... and good area re general gun ownership, carry and hunting.

 

[pax]

Bumping this over to Legal & Political.

pax

Knock Knock.
Who's There?
Recursion.
Recursion who?
Knock Knock...

 

[gryphon]

Grew up in PA, moved to Ohio for college and job. I'd say the farther away from the bigger cities, the more "normal" people seem to be. I grew up in the Adams/York county area. Not much there, but a nice place.