PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Pennsylvania House has passed a bill that would stiffen penalties for certain crimes committed in violation of a Protection From Abuse order.
Bill sponsor, Central Pennsylvania Democrat Nathan Davidson, said the legislation didn’t create new crimes, but instead increased potential penalties for certain offenses if committed with a PFA in place.
“House Bill 1909 addresses a well-documented pattern in which abusers repeatedly violate PFAs with little consequence, often escalating to serious harm or death, including at times, the loss of law enforcement officers,” Davidson said.
The bill passed the House largely on party lines, with one Democrat voting against, and two Republicans in favor.
Republican Eric Nelson called the bill noble in attempts to right a wrong, but said its lifetime ban on owning firearms goes too far, noting PFAs don’t always apply to domestic partners, but could result from a dispute between neighbors over a parking spot or a barking dog.
“Disorderly conduct offenses like making unreasonable noise, using offensive language or even obscene gestures, when paired with a PFA would result in a permanent, lifetime loss of a constitutional right to own a firearm that is not proportional punishment,” Nelson said.
The bill is headed to the majority-Republican State Senate, where it’s unlikely to pass.