How to purchase and own a handgun in PA

[Hooterdawg]

1. What are the requirements to buy a pistol/firearm?
2. Do you have to get a permit /register a firearm in PA for it to be legal for use in PA?
3. Is there a special permit to carry a firearm either open or concealed?
4. Do they have separate permits for type of ammunition used in a handgun ( hollowpoint, etc.)

[Philadelphia]

1. What are the requirements to buy a pistol/firearm?
2. Do you have to get a permit /register a firearm in PA for it to be legal for use in PA?
3. Is there a special permit to carry a firearm either open or concealed?
4. Do they have separate permits for type of ammunition used in a handgun ( hollowpoint, etc.)

Move to PA and we will welcome you back to America.

To buy a gun you must be a law abiding and mentally stable citizen or immigrant alien (green card). You walk into a gun shop, fill out some paperwork, they do an instant computerized check on your criminal and mental health history through the state police, and if everything checks out you pay for the gun and walk out with it.

Why are you asking all of these questions?

[gnbrotz]

2. Do you have to get a permit /register a firearm in PA for it to be legal for use in PA?

You do not need to obtain any permit to purchase or use a firearm in PA. Certain types of 'transfers' are recorded (including purchase from a dealer), but there are specific circumstances (exempted by statute) when a record of transfer does not need to be completed.

3. Is there a special permit to carry a firearm either open or concealed?

PA issues a License to Carry Firearms. The license provides the ability to legally carry a firearm in four different situations:
1. Concealed on or about your person
2. In a vehicle, outside of a short list of very specific exceptions
3. Open or concealed during a government declared emergency
4. Open or concealed in a city of the first class (Philadelphia is the only city of the first class in PA)

Open carry on foot does not require a license, though as noted above, general carry in a vehicle requires a LTCF or any similar license from another state. Because of that, regularly practiced OC is very difficult without also holding a LTCF.

4. Do they have separate permits for type of ammunition used in a handgun ( hollowpoint, etc.)

There are no permits needed for any ammo. There is no prohibition on carrying hollowpoint ammo, and no limitation on the number of rounds you can carry.