Coronavirus Gun Control: Philly Police Halt Concealed Permit Issuance

[2DogsBarking]

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2...cealed-permit/

The Philadelphia Police Department halted the issuance of concealed carry permits this week after the unit that processes the permit was shut down amid Chinese coronavirus concerns.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Philadelphia police spokesperson Sekou Kinebrew indicated the department stopped issuance because there is no set day for when the processing unit will reopen during the coronavirus outbreak.

Kinebrew said, “Because this entire pandemic is inherently fluid, we can’t predict how long it will be closed.”

In addition to halting concealed permit issuance, the Philadelphia Police Department are relaxing their policies and “delaying arrest for … narcotics offenses, thefts, burglary and prostitution.” However, Kinebrew made clear “officers would continue to arrest people carrying a firearm without a permit.”

The Truth About Guns notes that law enforcement officials in a handful of other areas in the state also ceased concealed permit issuance.
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https://www.inquirer.com/health/coro...-20200320.html



The coronavirus pandemic has led to a rush to purchase firearms and ammunition in the Philadelphia region and across Pennsylvania, leading to long lines at some gun shops.

But the Philadelphia Police Department has shut down its gun-permits unit. Firearm owners without a license-to-carry permit will, in almost all circumstances, not be able to carry the weapons without risking arrest.

Sheriff’s offices in Montgomery, Allegheny, and at least five Pennsylvania other counties have done the same, according to gun-rights groups that have been tracking the shutdowns.

Inspector Sekou Kinebrew, a Philadelphia police spokesperson, said the city stopped processing permits on Tuesday.

“Because this entire pandemic is inherently fluid, we can't predict how long it will be closed,” Kinebrew said.


The unit, located on Erie Avenue in North Philadelphia, had received about 1,900 license-to-carry permits since the beginning of February until it shut down.

Carrying a firearm without a permit is a third-degree felony, unless the person is otherwise eligible for a gun permit. In that case, it’s typically downgraded to a misdemeanor, Kinebrew said.

As a result of the pandemic, police in Philadelphia are delaying arrests for some crimes – including narcotics offenses, thefts, burglary and prostitution – but Kinebrew said Friday that officers would continue to arrest people carrying a firearm without a permit.


Kim Stolfer, president of Firearms Owners Against Crime, a Pennsylvania-based group, said he believes that ceasing to issue permits violates the state constitution and law.

“It’s illegal. There is no provision in the law allowing it,” Stolfer said Friday.

Stolfer said gun owners without a license would be risking arrest on serious charges if they carry the firearm outside their house or drive with it. In addition to Philadelphia, he said he was aware of seven Pennsylvania counties that have stopped issuing permits: Montgomery, Allegheny, Lackawanna, Erie, Monroe, Somerset, and Washington.

“If you want to defend yourself, you can’t do it unless you have a license to carry, and if you can’t get a license to carry you essentially have no right to defend yourself,” Stolfer said, referring to carrying a gun in public.

Montgomery County Sheriff Sean Kilkenny said in an email Friday that issuing permits is “not an emergency service in my view.”

“I am sorry to inconvenience those wishing to receive their license-to-carry permits, but the health of my deputies and staff is paramount to me,” Kilkenny said.



Gun shops have been doing brisk business amid the coronavirus outbreak. There were so many requests for background checks on Tuesday that the state police computer system crashed twice. They completed 4,342 checks Tuesday, compared with 1,359 checks on the same day one year ago.

Gun shops, however, appear to fall under the category of businesses that will be required to close as a result of Gov. Tom Wolf’s emergency order. He has ordered all but “life-sustaining” businesses to shut down by Saturday to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Wolf’s spokespeople have not responded to questions about how the order would affect gun shops.



Joe Staudt, who owns Staudt’s Gun Shop in Harrisburg, said he expects to stay open as long as the state’s background check system for gun buyers is running.

“I have a drive-through window open right now,” Staudt said, sounding exasperated as he rushed to get off the phone with a reporter. “If the background check system stays open, we’re open. If it’s closed, we’re closed. Got to go.”

[hunterwasser]

Absolutely a violation of our rights, however, seems on brand for Philly. Can't wait to move out of this shithole.

[Krichardson]

Sucks for any applicants who forked over their cash and were about to be called back in to continue the process.Philly's process is much more time consuming than the other counties,couple that with the large number of applicants crammed into the relatively small space of the Unit on most days of operation and everyone in there pretty much are sitting ducks for the Wu Tang virus.

[PAMedic=F|A=]

Sucks for any applicants who forked over their cash and were about to be called back in to continue the process.Philly's process is much more time consuming than the other counties,couple that with the large number of applicants crammed into the relatively small space of the Unit on most days of operation and everyone in there pretty much are sitting ducks for the Wu Tang virus.

Sounds like there are going to be some people making money of the city for violating a court order.

Given phillys repeated inability to follow the law, or injunctions of the courts, it would be reasonable for them to process all applications immediately, as soon as the pics results are in.

[abner13]

Nope! Judges will interpret it and rule that things are different under a SoE.

[hunterwasser]

What can even be done about this? I'm up for a renewal soon, and they said there is no date the permit unit is supposed to reopen.

[jthrelf]

What can even be done about this? I'm up for a renewal soon, and they said there is no date the permit unit is supposed to reopen.

You have the 6 months defense if you're still eligible, beyond that you're screwed.

[HSMaxim]

You have the 6 months defense if you're still eligible, beyond that you're screwed.

Do you have a source in law of this?

Because the Indiana County sheriffs office says its a myth.

[Mr_Gixxer]

Do you have a source in law of this?

Because the Indiana County sheriffs office says its a myth.

6106(b)(12)


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

[jthrelf]

Do you have a source in law of this?

Because the Indiana County sheriffs office says its a myth.

Sure it's just the Pennsylvania Uniform Firearms act. Title 18 § 6106, Line 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.

Note it says "prior to date of arrest" which basically means it's a defense after arrest... So you could still get jammed up, though I say unlikely especially given the current events.

Here's the statute text:
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs...hoice=suppress

Definitely not a myth!