Carrying with expired license while waiting for renewal

**Howard Bullock** · September 17th, 2012, 07:22 PM

Two items:

#1

18 Pa.C.S. § 6106: Firearms not to be carried without a license

(a) Offense defined.--
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(2) A person who is otherwise eligible to possess a [FN1] valid license under this chapter but carries a firearm in any vehicle or any person who carries a firearm concealed on or about his person, except in his place of abode or fixed place of business, without a valid and lawfully issued license and has not committed any other criminal violation commits a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(b) Exceptions.--The provisions of subsection (a) shall not apply to:
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(12) A person who has a lawfully issued license to carry a firearm pursuant to section 6109 (relating to licenses) and that said license expired within six months prior to the date of arrest and that the individual is otherwise eligible for renewal of the license.
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I received my notification that my license was going to expire a few weeks ago. The instructions stated that I should not apply until within two weeks of the expiration date. My license expires tomorrow. I applied for my renewal today with the Dauphin County Sheriff at an evening satellite office. The deputy stated I could pick up the new license in two weeks.

I am asking for trouble by carrying until I pick up my new license considering exception #12 above?

#2

Also during this session, a friend was applying for his first license. The application stated that the social security number was optional to help avoid confusion during identification. My friend included his SSN. The deputy stated he had to see the actual Social Security card and refuse to proceed until he went home and returned with the card. I do not see anywhere the the actual SS card is a requirement for application. Am I missing something?

**Preble Pro** · September 17th, 2012, 08:03 PM

#1. You are covered until you get your new LTCF

#2. The deputy is full of shit!

**twency** · September 17th, 2012, 08:15 PM

Once your old license expires you are exempt from the licensing requirement for six months, assuming you remain eligible for a LTCF. That covers you for the purpose of PA law (only). Technically you may not carry within 1000' of the grounds of K-12 schools due to the federal GFSZA until you get your new license. But the odds are very low of that being an issue if any presence in a school zone is minimal and incidental. I wouldn't suggest OCing to a principal's office.

And deputy is indeed full of it.

**rmagill** · September 17th, 2012, 08:21 PM

You are legally covered, but be prepared if you are stopped for the cop to not know you are covered. It might not be a bad idea to carry a copy of that statute until you pick up your new LTCF.

**Kurt_D** · September 17th, 2012, 09:45 PM

To put the deputy even deeper in the crapper, is this in the statute:

18 Pa.C.S. § 6109: (f) (2) At least 60 days prior to the expiration of each license, the issuing sheriff shall send to the licensee an application for renewal of license. Failure to receive a renewal application shall not relieve a licensee from the responsibility to renew the license.

(accent is mine)

He ought to read the UFA a few times (as they all should)...

If the SSN is optional, why the devil does he have to see the card - what a rube! I entered just the last 4 digits and got no grief.