Just got a response from Kate Harper.
Dear Abner,
Thanks for writing. I was unaware of those bills and will review them. In my role as a legislator, I have always found it useful to let CeasefirePA supporters know that PA has in place an excellent background check system, and even better than other states and the federal system in many cases. I was pleased to be able to refute the idea that PA has a "gun show loophole," knowing we do instant checks at gun shows. If the proposed bill can keep us in the category of having better background checks than others, I am fine with that. Kate
State Representative Kate Harper, Esq.
1515 Dekalb Pike
Blue Bell, PA 19422
And I replied,
Thank you for your response Ma'am! This is why I keep voting for you! As you may or may not know , the registration of firearms and their owners by any Govt or Law Enforcement agency is already against*Pennsylvania law.
From the PA Crimes Code;
§ 6111.4. Registration of firearms.
******* Notwithstanding any section of this chapter to the contrary,
**** nothing in this chapter shall be construed to allow any
**** government or law enforcement agency or any agent thereof to
**** create, maintain or operate any registry of firearm ownership
**** within this Commonwealth. For the purposes of this section only,
**** the term "firearm" shall include any weapon that is designed to
**** or may readily be converted to expel any projectile by the
**** action of an explosive or the frame or receiver of any such
**** weapon.
**** (June 13, 1995, 1st Sp.Sess., P.L.1024, No.17, eff. 120 days)
The PA SP "Record of Sale Database" is an unlawful de facto registry , and often abused , as the PSP freely admits it's incomplete. Occasionally , law abiding individuals who legally own or carry firearms they purchased while residents of other states , while in the military , or were passed down from parents/grandparents , have had then confiscated by police who 'run' then against the ROS database , but show 'no record'. The police then demand 'proof of ownership' to their satisfaction before they are returned. They are then turned over to a federal and state*licensed dealer , and the owner is forced to fill out an application for purchase and fill out all paperwork , pass PICS check , pay a fee and now the gun is 'registered' in the ROS database to their satisfaction.
The PSP-run PICS is also a nightmare as often it*takes a long time , or*crashes on busy (gunshow) weekends , and has many eligible purchasers put into 'research' or denied for illegitimate reasons.
Thank you again for your attention to this matter!
Sincerely, Abner13