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I'm going to remove the navbox with collapsible groups from the body of the article, except for the overview section, which I'll leave as the new body. The article should be formatted as paragraphs of running prose, rather than as a navbox with collapsible groups. Besides not conforming to guidelines for how a Wikipedia article should be laid out, the navbox is difficult to update. Also, most of it consists of quotes, instead of original prose written by editors. But it does contain a number of links that could be useful for updating the article, so I'm copying it to the talk page, below. — Mudwater (Talk) 02:12, 3 January 2013 (UTC)[reply]
The Constitution of Pennsylvania protects the right of citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state. The state preempts local regulation of the lawful ownership, possession, transfer or transportation of firearms, ammunition, or ammunition components.[2][3]
Pennsylvania law requires that information received by the Pennsylvania State Police pursuant to a sale is destroyed within 72 hours of the completion of the background check.[2][3] The Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association states that the Pennsylvania State Police keep a "sales database" of all handguns purchased within the state.[4] The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled in Allegheny County Sportsmen’s League v. Rendell, 860 A.2d 10
(Pa. 2004), that Pennsylvania’s database of handgun sales is not prohibited by state law.[5]
No firearms are known to be prohibited by state law. Private sales of handguns must go through a licensed dealer, though long guns may be sold privately without the use of a licensed dealer. Licensed dealers must provide locking devices with handguns unless the handgun has a locking device incorporated in its design. Firearms are prohibited from certain places, including court facilities. Concealed carry on school property is currently an unsettled area of the law with many in law enforcement arguing that the practice is absolutely prohibited and firearms right supporters arguing that 18 Pa.C.S. 912(c) permits those who have a concealed carry license to carry on school grounds as an "other lawful purpose." Carrying a handgun on public streets and public property of Philadelphia, or in a vehicle anywhere in the state, or concealed on or about one's person anywhere in the state is prohibited without a "License To Carry Firearms" (LTCF) or a license or permit issued by another state which is honored by Pennsylvania for that purpose.[2][3] A LTCF is generally not required to openly carry a firearm on or about one's person, except in a vehicle or in Philadelphia, or during a declared State of Emergency.[6]
Pennsylvania shall issue a LTCF to resident and non-resident applicants if no good cause exists to deny the license. Non-resident applicants must first obtain a license from their home state, unless their home state does not issue licenses.[2][3]
Constitutional Provision
Article I. Declaration of Rights, § 21. Right to bear arms
The right of the citizens to bear arms in defence of themselves and the state shall not be questioned.
Preemption and Local Regulation
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6120. Limitation on the regulation of firearms and ammunition.
The state preempts regulation of the lawful ownership, possession, transfer or transportation of firearms, ammunition or ammunition components.
Registration
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6111.4. Registration of firearms
Notwithstanding any section of this chapter to the contrary, nothing in this chapter shall be construed to allow any government or law enforcement agency or any agent thereof to create, maintain or operate any registry of firearm ownership within this Commonwealth.
Information received by the Pennsylvania State Police pursuant to a sale, shall be destroyed within 72 hours of the completion of the background check.[7]
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 912. Possession of weapon on school property
Elementary or secondary school buildings, grounds, and conveyances with the possible exception of licensed concealed carry pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. 912(c).
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 913. Possession of firearm or other dangerous weapon in court facility
Court facilities, except certain persons and in compliance with certain rules.
Notice must be posted at each entrance.
Lawfully carried firearms may be checked into a locker within the building containing the court facility.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6106. Firearms not to be carried without a license
In a vehicle, except certain persons or in compliance with certain rules
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6107. Prohibited conduct during emergency
Public streets and public property during a proclaimed state or municipal emergency, except certain persons or in certain circumstances.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6108. Carrying firearms on public streets or public property in Philadelphia
Public streets and public property in Philadelphia, except certain persons.
Prohibited Persons
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6110.1. Possession of firearm by minor
Persons under 18 years of age may not possess certain firearms, except while under adult supervision or while lawfully hunting or trapping.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6105. Persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms
Persons subject to an active protection from abuse order which provides for the relinquishment of firearms.
Persons convicted of an offense enumerated in Title 18 § 6105. Persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6105.1. Restoration of firearm rights for offenses under prior laws of this Commonwealth
Certain prohibited persons may be eligible to have their firearm rights restored.
Manufacturing
Transfer, Purchase, Sale
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6111. Sale or transfer of firearms
Licensed sellers must perform background checks.
Private sellers of handguns, and rifles and shotguns under a certain length, must use a licensed seller to conduct the transaction.
The licensed seller will conduct the transaction as if he were the seller of the firearm, which includes a background check.
Long guns may be sold privately without the use of a licensed seller.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6142. Locking device for firearms
Licensed sellers must provide a locking device for handguns unless the firearm already incorporates a locking device.
Transportation and Carry
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6106. Firearms not to be carried without a license
A License To Carry Firearms (LTCF) is required in order to carry firearms in a vehicle or concealed on or about one's person.
A LTCF is generally not required to openly carry a firearm on or about one's person, except in a vehicle or in Philadephia.[6]
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6108. Carrying firearms on public streets or public property in Philadelphia
A LTCF is required in order to carry firearms on public streets and public property in Philadelphia.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6107. Prohibited conduct during emergency
A LTCF is required in order to carry a firearm on public streets and public property during a proclaimed state or municipal emergency, except certain persons or in certain circumstances.
18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6109. Licenses
Pennsylvania shall issue a License To Carry Firearms (LTCF) if no good cause exists to deny the license.
Non-residents shall be issued a LTCF only if they have a license from their home state, unless their home state does not issue licenses.
Certain persons, enumerated in 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6109, shall be denied an LTCF.
The Pennsylvania Attorney General maintains formal reciprocity agreements with some other states for the recognition of licenses and permits.[8]
A valid license or permit to carry firearms issued by any state, is valid for carrying a firearm in a vehicle, per 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 6106(b)(11)
@Sir Joseph: The carry permit section is usually for concealed carry permits, in order to remain consistent with all other states/territories charts. A carry permit is required to carry concealed in PA. Open carry is addressed in its own dedicated section, which is where the City of the First Class requirement applies (Philadelphia is the only city to fall under that [population over 1 million]). Please self-revert in order to remain consistent with all other states/territories articles. Thanks.Terrorist96 (talk) 03:51, 17 January 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Right now it says you need a carry permit to carry a handgun and that is incorrect. If you open carry, you don't need one. Perhaps carry permit issued or something along those lines, but right now the article is factually incorrect. Sir Joseph(talk) 03:57, 18 January 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I've updated it further to state "concealed carry permit required?" to hopefully clarify that that row deals with concealed carry and the next row deals with open carry, which clearly says permitless open carry is allowed outside of Philly.Terrorist96 (talk) 01:21, 19 January 2018 (UTC)[reply]
I thought this was a really interesting page and was structured very well. I think the introduction to the page could have a little more to make the page more proportionate and structurally appealing. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2601:547:1000:F40:45B4:E05E:E91B:2AC8 (talk) 18:30, 11 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]
There's so much unrelated rubbish in this article - you compare it to any of the other gun laws nested at the bottom, and they don't look like this. Why is there a section about gun violence or "The Power of Gun Lobbying"? Why are there large sections about laws that aren't on the books? This article is in need of a major rewrite. 24.176.73.210 (talk) 01:55, 2 May 2018 (UTC)[reply]
Agreed. I've shoveled out some of the worst of the unsourced POV commentary, and changed some section headings from "gun control" to "gun legislation", because the goal of some of the laws is not to control, but to protect freedom of ownership and transport etc. There still appears to be a lot of copypasted text lazily thrown in, and the section order needs a cleanup. The Mighty Glen (talk) 09:17, 2 May 2018 (UTC)[reply]
