(Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com)
Pennsylvania gun owners could soon have more flexibility in how they obtain concealed carry permits under legislation proposed in the state House.
Currently, state law requires residents to apply for a license through the sheriff’s office in the county where they live. The measure, introduced by Rep. Zachary Mako (R-Northampton), would allow applicants to seek a permit from any county sheriff’s office in the commonwealth, regardless of residency.
Constituent concerns sparked proposal
Mako said he drafted the legislation after hearing from a constituent in his district who lives just a few miles from the Carbon County line but must travel twice that distance to Easton, the Northampton County seat, in order to apply.
“This is a frustrating procedure that many Pennsylvanians face on a daily basis, and it is an unnecessary burden,” Mako said in a memo seeking cosponsors, according to Pennsylvania Capital-Star. “With my proposed legislation, it would eliminate the inconvenience so that Pennsylvanians, much like my constituent, can apply at a sheriff’s office much closer to their primary residence.”
More than 1.7 million license holders statewide
According to the Pennsylvania State Police, nearly 1.7 million people currently hold a license to carry a concealed firearm. Demand for permits has steadily risen over the past decade, with annual issuances increasing from about 237,000 in 2015 to more than 384,000 at their peak in 2021.
To qualify, applicants must be at least 21 years old, submit to a criminal background check, and pay a processing fee. Sheriffs have up to 45 days to review applications. Licenses are valid for five years.
Penalties for carrying without a license
Carrying a concealed weapon without a valid license is a first-degree misdemeanor if the person is otherwise eligible to obtain one. Conviction can carry up to five years in prison and fines of as much as $10,000.
More serious penalties apply if the offender is not eligible for a license or is caught with a concealed weapon during the commission of another crime. In those cases, the offense becomes a felony punishable by as many as seven years behind bars.
Broader debate on gun licensing
Mako’s legislation is one of several recent proposals in Harrisburg seeking to change the state’s rules on concealed firearms. Earlier this year, Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Lawrence) introduced a bill that would eliminate the requirement to obtain a license to carry concealed in Pennsylvania altogether, per the report.
Bernstine argued that law-abiding citizens already have the right to openly carry firearms without a license and that the same principle should extend to concealed carry. His bill would still allow residents to obtain a license if they wish to carry in other states where Pennsylvania permits are recognized.
Pennsylvania currently has reciprocity agreements with 30 states, including Ohio, West Virginia, and, most recently, Virginia.
Bernstine’s measure was referred to the House Judiciary Committee in February, where it has not yet received consideration.
