Articles Posted in Pennsylvania – Gun Trust Lawyer

    18 PA.C.S. § 6103 deals with crimes committed with firearms. Specifically, “If any person commits or attempts to commit a crime enumerated in section 6105 (relating to persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms) when armed with a firearm contrary to the provisions of this sub-chapter, that person may, in addition to the punishment provided for the crime, also be punished as provided by this sub-chapter.” (18 PA.C.S. § 6103).

18 PA.C.S. § 6120 states, “No county, municipality or township may in any manner regulate the lawful ownership, possession, transfer or transportation of firearms, ammunition or ammunition components when carried or transported for purposes not prohibited by the laws of this Commonwealth.” This type of language is known as a Preemption Clause and denies all counties, municipalities and townships from regulating the ownership, possession, transfer or transportation of firearms or ammunition.  
   
Some may recognize that this section has recently been in the news in regards to several laws that the city of Philadelphia passed limiting the types of firearms that could be owned, as well as, other regulations on firearms ownership. For a discussion of the recent Philadelphia regulations, which are invalid, as well as other regulations in violation of 18 PA.C.S. § 6120.
 
Another interesting aspect to 18 PA.C.S. § 6120 is its limitation on right of action against gun and ammunition manufacturers. ” No political subdivision may bring or maintain an action at law or in equity  against any firearms or ammunition manufacturer, trade association or dealer for damages, abatement, injunctive relief or any other relief or remedy resulting from or relating to either the lawful design or manufacturer of firearms or ammunition of the lawful marketing or sale of firearms or ammunition to the public.” (18 PA.C.S. § 6120). However, “Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prohibit a political subdivision from bringing or maintaining an action against a firearms or ammunition manufacturer or dealer for breach of contract or warranty as to firearms or ammunition purchased by the political subdivision.” (18 PA.C.S. § 6120)

To fully understand the limitations, one must look to the definition of a “political subdivision.” A political subdivision is defined as “any home rule charter municipality, county, city, borough, incorporated town, township or school district.” (18 PA.C.S. § 6120). Furthermore, a dealer is defined as “any person engaged in the business of selling at wholesale or retail a firearm or ammunition.” (18 PA.C.S. § 6120). Moreover, “firearms” is  to have the meaning given to it in 18 PA.C.S. § 5515 (relating to prohibiting of paramilitary training) but shall not include air rifles as that term is defined in 18 PA.C.S. § 6304 (relating to sale and use of air rifles).

    PA’s firearm laws are consolidated in Title 18, Chapter 61, Sub Chapter A, which translates to 18 PA.C.S. § 6101 et seq. This sub-chapter is known as the Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms Act of 1995 (PA UFA). (18 PA.C.S § 6101). Since the PA UFA has numerous sections, §§ 6101-6127, including subsets thereof, this article will set forth the sections of the PA UFA for quick reference purposes. Separate articles on each section will follow in the future. One of the most important sections is 18 PA.C.S. § 6120, which is a preemption section, denying any county, municipality, or township the power to regulates firearms other than the PA State Legislature.

18 PA.C.S. § 6101: Short Title of sub-chapter
18 PA.C.S. § 6102: Definitions
18 PA.C.S. § 6103: Crimes Committed with Firearms
18 PA.C.S. § 6104: Evidence of Intent
18 PA.C.S. § 6105: Persons not to Possess, Use, Manufacture, Control, Sell, or Transfer Firearms
18 PA.C.S. § 6105.1: Restoration of Firearm Rights for Offenses under Prior Laws of this     Commonwealth.
18 PA.C.S. § 6106: Firearms not to be Carried without a License
18 PA.C.S. § 6106.1: Carrying Loaded Weapons other than Firearms
18 PA.C.S. § 6107: Prohibited Conduct during Emergency
18 PA.C.S. § 6108: Carrying Firearms on Public Streets or Public Property in Philadelphia
18 PA.C.S. § 6109: Licenses
18 PA.C.S. § 6110: (Repealed. 1995 June 13, P.L. 1024 No. 17 (Spec. Sess. No. 1).
18 PA.C.S. § 6110.1: Possession of Firearm by Minor
18 PA.C.S. § 6110.2: Possession of Firearm with Altered Manufacturer’s Number
18 PA.C.S. § 6111: Sale or Transfer of Firearms
18 PA.C.S. § 6111.1: Pennsylvania State Police
18 PA.C.S. § 6111.2: Firearm Sales Surcharge
18 PA.C.S. § 6111.3: Firearm Records Check Fund
18 PA.C.S. § 6111.4: Registration of Firearms (No registration may be kept)
18 PA.C.S. § 6111.5: Rules and Regulations
18 PA.C.S. § 6112: Retail Dealer Required to be Licensed
18 PA.C.S. § 6113: Licensing of Dealer
18 PA.C.S. § 6114: Judicial Review
18 PA.C.S. § 6115: Loans on, or Lending or Giving Firearms Prohibited
18 PA.C.S. § 6116: False Evidence of Identity
18 PA.C.S. § 6117: Altering or Obliterating Marks of Identification
18 PA.C.S. § 6118: Antique Firearms
18 PA.C.S. § 6119: Violation Penalty
18 PA.C.S. § 6120: Limitation on the Regulation of Firearms and Ammunition (Preemption)
18 PA.C.S. § 6121: Certain Bullets Prohibited (use of a KTW Teflon coated bullet or other armor-    piercing ammunition during the commission of a crime, as set forth in 18 PA.C.S. § 6102)
18 PA.C.S. § 6122: Proof of License and Exception
18 PA.C.S. § 6123: Waiver of Disability or Pardons
18 PA.C.S. § 6124: Administrative Regulations
18 PA.C.S. § 6125: Distribution of Uniform Firearm Laws and Firearm Safety Brochures
18 PA.C.S. § 6126: Expired
18 PA.C.S. § 6127: Firearm Tracing

18 PA.C.S. § 6104 deals with what constitutes intent in relation to 18 PA.C.S. 6105, prohibited  persons. “In the trial of a person for committing or attempting to commit a crime enumerated in section 6105 (relating to persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms), the fact that that person was armed with a firearm, used or attempted to be used, and had no license to carry the same, shall be evidence of that person’s intention to commit the offense.” (18 PA.C.S. § 6104).

Pennsylvania’s UFA: Persons not to Possess, Use, Manufacture, Control, Sell, or Transfer Firearms

    18 PA.C.S. § 6105 deals with persons who cannot possess, use, manufacture, control, sell, or transfer firearms. It must be noted that this section applies to convictions that were both committed within and outside of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. (18 PA.C.S. § 6105). These prohibitions are broken down into two categories: 1. those persons who violate one of the enumerated offenses; and 2. those persons who fall into nine subcategories of non-enumerated offenses. There is also an exemption  clause which allows one who has been convicted of one of the enumerated offenses or certain non-enumerated offenses to petition the court of common pleas for relief. Moreover, any person who becomes a prohibited person has “a reasonable period of time, not to exceed 60 days from the date” of conviction. (18 PA.C.S. § 6105).
 
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