Time and time again it is asked where is it legal or illegal to carry in PA. Below is a guide to where and how you can lawfully carry.
Off-limits places in PA and what makes them off-limits:
1. Court Facilities - State statute
2. Elementary and Secondary schools(K-12 grades), grounds and buildings whether the school is private or public - State statute, however there is a clause for affirmative defense for "other lawful purposes". Colleges are not prohibited by law, however the college could levy their own infractions like expelling the person or other civil punishments.
3. State Parks and other reserves maintained by the PA DCNR - by regulation
4. Casinos -
by regulation
5. Certain Department of State buildings -
by regulation
6. Places off-limits by Federal Law or regulation, IE: military installations(exceptions for hunting at some bases), Federal Government buildings, National Parks and other historic sights, after the security check point in airports.
7. Any private property where a landowner, tenant or person so authorized to maintain property has asked you to leave because you are carrying.
If your situation is
not one of the above, then you are LEGAL.
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Private Properties, land owner and tenant rights prevail above all:
1. If the land/facility
isn't owned by a municipality, township, county, state or fed government - then it is private property. In fact, even many properties maintained by a municipality of any level in PA is still private property - but the municipality has a lease or right-of-way. Most parcels are surveyed from the center of the road in front of your land - yes, if asked you can rightfully reply that you do own the road.
2. Malls, stores, movie theaters, restaurants, bars, etc are private property - they may ask you to leave if you are carrying a firearm, or the may ask you to leave if you aren't carrying a gun, they may ask you to leave because you weren't wearing a pink tutu with a tactical thigh holster, they may ask you to leave for ANY reason and you must comply.
3. Just because persons may come and go in a place as they please, doesn't make it "public" property. What makes property "public" or "private" is whether the land/real-estate is owned by an individual/company/corporation(private) or by the people as a whole(public).
4. Unless you have an Allodial Title, you do not own your land - you lease it from the government by means of property taxes. Your real-estate sits on borrowed land.
5. To sum things up, your land is actually public property that is leased by means of taxes in the Fee Simple/Feudal Title system allowing you to claim it as private. The government then requires right-of-ways from you for roads or other easements.
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Open carry:
If you can own a firearm, you may lawfully openly carry it on foot without a license. Except in a City of the First Class(1 million residents), you are required to have a license. Philly is the ONLY First Class city in PA, the next largest city, Pittsburgh, is about 550,000 residents away from being one.
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Ages to purchase or own a firearm:
Handguns, Pistols, Revolvers:
1. 21 to buy one from a
FFL
2a. 18 if given or purchasing one from a parent or grandparent. No paperwork necessary
2b. 18 if given or purchasing from any other person who lawfully owns the handgun, BUT it must be transfered through a
SHERIFF. FFL's can only use the instant background check for firearms that they have listed in their bound books - and for you to receive it from the FFL you must be 21. Since Sheriffs aren't required to do such - they may use the instant check required by PA law to do the transfer.**
Rifles and Shotguns:
1. 18 to buy from a FFL.
**See ATF Open Letter Below:
http://www.atf.gov/firearms/122905pe...openletter.pdf
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Before you ask, NO loaded long guns can be carried or transported in a vehicle - whether you are licensed or not.