PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Four bills that would tighten gun ownership laws in Pennsylvania have advanced out of a State House Committee.
Two bills would mirror federal law to ban machine gun conversion devices or “switches” (HB1866) and ghost guns at the state level (HB1099). Another, dubbed “red flag laws” (HB1859), would allow the temporary removal of a gun from someone deemed to be a danger to themselves or others, and a fourth would require a background check for the purchase of a long gun (HB1593).
Each bill advanced out of the State House Judiciary Committee on a party-line vote.
Republican Robert Ledbetter argued against a ban on switches, a quarter-sized device that allows a semi-automatic handgun to empty a clip in a matter of seconds. He said they’re already illegal at the federal level.
“I cannot see the intent beyond virtue signaling… It will do absolutely nothing to prevent criminals from obtaining them, because criminals don't follow the law,” Ledbetter said.
Democrat Emily Kinkead said they’ve passed numerous laws that overlap with federal law.
“These arguments were never made about how, under those laws, we couldn't possibly pass those because criminals would not listen to those laws. It seems to only come up when it comes to gun violence prevention,” Kinkead said.
The bills head to the House floor. If they clear the House, the bills have no chance in the State Senate.