HARRISBURG – Legislation sponsored by Pennsylvania Senate Second Amendment Caucus Chairman Sen. Cris Dush (R-25) that would fully allow for the concealed carrying of legally owned firearms, Senate Bill 357, was advanced (9-5) by the Senate Judiciary Committee today, with all five negative votes cast by PA Senate Democrats.
“Article 1, Section 21 of the Pennsylvania Constitution unquestionably states: ‘The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned’,” Dush said. “Unfortunately, as we have seen time and time again in the Democrat-controlled state House, even the most ‘well-intentioned’ or ‘commonsense’ gun laws can rapidly mutate, multiply and come to fruition as tyrannical, Orwellian firearm confiscation and control dictates. This is precisely why I have re-introduced Senate Bill 357 to serve as an unbeatable, nullifying legislative checkmate by fully allowing for the life-preserving, constitutionally recognized concealed carrying of legally owned firearms.”
Specifically, Senate Bill 357 would establish a new two-tiered system for Pennsylvania’s concealed carry process:
- Tier one would no longer require law-abiding citizens to obtain a permit to carry a concealed firearm in Pennsylvania.
- Tier two would give citizens the option of obtaining a License to Carry a Firearm (LTCF) permit that is valid throughout Pennsylvania; and would provide for carrying firearms in more than 30 other states that either recognize Pennsylvania LTCFs or a reciprocity agreement is in effect.
“Clearly, the safety and welfare of our citizens cannot be guaranteed by criminalizing our most fundamental freedoms by imposing universal background checks, disarming law-abiding citizens in ‘gun free zones’ or allowing the unconstitutional ‘red flag law’ confiscation of legally owned firearms,” reiterated Dush. “At the most practical level, Senate Bill 357 would fully protect Pennsylvania citizens who follow the law every day and should not be questioned, prosecuted or imprisoned any time they choose to exercise their sacred right to carry a concealed firearm.”
Senate Bill 357 now advances to the full Senate for consideration.
Watch the committee meeting here.
Watch Dush’s comments on Senate Bill 357 here.
CONTACT: Ty McCauslin, 717-787-7084