Pennsylvania SB 357: An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 23 (Domestic Relations) and 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in inchoate crimes, further providing for the offense of possession of firearm or other dangerous weapon in court facility; in firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for relinquishment of firearms and firearm licenses by convicted persons, repealing provisions relating to firearms not to be carried without a license and to carrying loaded weapons other than firearms, providing for license not required, further providing for prohibited conduct during emergency, repealing provisions relating to carrying firearms on public streets or public property in Philadelphia, providing for sportsman's firearm permit and further providing for licenses, for sale or transfer of firearms, for antique firearms and for proof of license and exception; in protection from abuse, further providing for relief; in hunting and furtaking, further providing for cooperation after lawfully killing big game; in protection of property and persons, further providing for loaded firearms in vehicles; and making editorial changes.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 546
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No. 357
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY DUSH, PHILLIPS-HILL, BARTOLOTTA, PENNYCUICK,
ROTHMAN, KEEFER, GEBHARD, BROOKS, HUTCHINSON, YAW, STEFANO,
ARGALL, J. WARD, COLEMAN AND LANGERHOLC, APRIL 4, 2025
REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, APRIL 4, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 23 (Domestic
Relations) and 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
Statutes, in inchoate crimes, further providing for the
offense of possession of firearm or other dangerous weapon in
court facility; in firearms and other dangerous articles,
further providing for relinquishment of firearms and firearm
licenses by convicted persons, repealing provisions relating
to firearms not to be carried without a license and to
carrying loaded weapons other than firearms, providing for
license not required, further providing for prohibited
conduct during emergency, repealing provisions relating to
carrying firearms on public streets or public property in
Philadelphia, providing for sportsman's firearm permit and
further providing for licenses, for sale or transfer of
firearms, for antique firearms and for proof of license and
exception; in protection from abuse, further providing for
relief; in hunting and furtaking, further providing for
cooperation after lawfully killing big game; in protection of
property and persons, further providing for loaded firearms
in vehicles; and making editorial changes.
The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:
(1) The laws in existence regulating firearms licensing
are ineffectual in preventing crime and only interfere with
the natural rights of law-abiding citizens.
(2) It is necessary to codify the inherent right to the
carrying of firearms, whether openly or concealed, and that
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the right to self-defense is an inherent natural right that
shall not be questioned as stated in section 21 of Article I
of the Constitution of Pennsylvania.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Sections 913(b)(3) and (e) and 6105.2(g)(1) of
Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended
to read:
§ 913. Possession of firearm or other dangerous weapon in court
facility.
* * *
(b) Grading.--
* * *
(3) An offense under subsection (a)(1) is a summary
offense if the person is a peace officer as defined in
section 501 (relating to definitions) and was carrying a
firearm under section [6106(b) (relating to firearms not to
be carried without a license) or] 6109 (relating to licenses)
and failed to check the firearm under subsection (e) prior to
entering the court facility.
* * *
(e) Facilities for checking firearms or other dangerous
weapons.--Each county shall make available at or within the
building containing a court facility by July 1, 2002, lockers or
similar facilities at no charge or cost for the temporary
checking of firearms by peace officers as defined in section 501
and persons carrying firearms under section [6106(b) or] 6109 or
for the checking of other dangerous weapons that are not
otherwise prohibited by law. Any individual checking a firearm,
dangerous weapon or an item deemed to be a dangerous weapon at a
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court facility must be issued a receipt. Notice of the location
of the facility shall be posted as required under subsection
(d).
* * *
§ 6105.2. Relinquishment of firearms and firearm licenses by
convicted persons.
* * *
(g) Relinquishment of licenses.--
(1) A person convicted of a crime resulting in a firearm
disability pursuant to section 6105(c)(9) shall also
relinquish to the sheriff any firearm license issued under
section [6106 (relating to firearms not to be carried without
a license) or] 6109 (relating to licenses) or 23 Pa.C.S. §
6108.3 (relating to relinquishment to third party for
safekeeping).
* * *
Section 2. Sections 6106 and 6106.1 of Title 18 are
repealed:
[§ 6106. Firearms not to be carried without a license.
(a) Offense defined.--
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), any person who
carries a firearm in any vehicle or any person who carries a
firearm concealed on or about his person, except in his place
of abode or fixed place of business, without a valid and
lawfully issued license under this chapter commits a felony
of the third degree.
(2) A person who is otherwise eligible to possess a
valid license under this chapter but carries a firearm in any
vehicle or any person who carries a firearm concealed on or
about his person, except in his place of abode or fixed place
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of business, without a valid and lawfully issued license and
has not committed any other criminal violation commits a
misdemeanor of the first degree.
(b) Exceptions.--The provisions of subsection (a) shall