HARRISBURG, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — Five bills aimed at strengthening Pennsylvania gun laws moved out of the House Judiciary committee on party lines. Debate on the bills pitted urban Democrats against rural Republicans.
Republican Clint Owlett says it could take 45 minutes for law enforcement to respond in his rural district in North Central Pennsylvania.
“That's why people care about this in rural areas. We don't apologize for being rural. We love living in rural communities. I love it that I'm 45 minutes away from anything — that's awesome. But I want to be able to protect my family.”
Philadelphia Democrat Chris Rabb says he respects responsible gun ownership and gun rights, but he says there’s a way to protect those rights in rural areas, while helping keep cities safe:
“Don't keep us from protecting our own in ways that make sense. If that is a legitimate concern you all have, then you should support municipalities having their own gun laws, and having flexibility, because we do represent a diverse commonwealth.”
One of the bills up for debate would tighten up serial number requirements on gun parts and kits used to make ghost guns. Sponsors of the bill say it would enhance federal ghost gun laws by requiring certain parts and every gun to have identifying markings like a serial number.
“We know why people own Legos. They want to put them together. We know why people get these components, they want to put them together, and they want to come into our communities and commit crimes,” Kenyatta said.
Philadelphia Democrat Malcolm Kenyatta says 12 ghost guns were recovered at crime scenes in Philadelphia in 2018 and in 2022 that number was 575.
“The ability to manufacture a firearm is not a novel phenomenon, nor a predominant tool in criminal activities,” said northcentral Republican Robert Leadbeter. “Instead, it represents a manifestation of the cherished American tradition of self-reliance and the exercise of Second Amendment rights.”
The committee also advanced four other gun-related bills, including one that would ban sales of firearms defined in the legislation as assault-style, another that would prohibit 3D printing of gun parts, and legislation that outlaws bump stocks or other devices that make a semi-automatic fire like a machine gun.
The bills all move to the House floor, but even if they pass the House, it’s unlikely they’ll move in the Republican controlled state Senate.