what is a firearm?

[lumper]

I was of the understanding that PA law refered to a firearm as a handgun or revolver only. Long guns, SBR, and such are not included under the PA legal defination of a firearm. Is this correct?

Thanks,

lumper.

[Pa. Patriot]

"Firearm." Any pistol or revolver with a barrel length less
than 15 inches, any shotgun with a barrel length less than 18
inches or any rifle with a barrel length less than 16 inches, or
any pistol, revolver, rifle or shotgun with an overall length of
less than 26 inches. The barrel length of a firearm shall be
determined by measuring from the muzzle of the barrel to the
face of the closed action, bolt or cylinder, whichever is
applicable.

Ref: 18 ch61 §6102

[knight0334]

As stated above, but it depends on in reference to what offense too. As for the matter of prohibited possession by a felon - firearm means anything that propels a missile by means of explosion. It means the same with a couple other laws as well. For concealed carrying and vehicle carrying - it means what is defined in the reply above.

[GunLawyer001]

There are perhaps a dozen or more different definitions of "firearm" within the UFA. Section 6102 has the default definition, which applies to every other section that uses the word "firearm" and doesn't have it's own definition.

Many sections have a sentence that says something like "for purposes of this section, "firearm means..." and then it will provide its own definition that ONLY applies within that section.

The various definitions range from the narrow default definition of pistols, SBR's and SBS's (which excludes all non-NFA rifles and shotguns), all the way to including anything that spits projectiles using explosive force, including antiques and black powder guns.

You really have to read the section that you're concerned about. It would be easier if they used a different term each time, like calling it a "gizmo" or "a section 6111.4 firearm" or even "Bobby". It's the sort of thing that confuses people, even the smart ones, because the statutes use an existing word with a common meaning, then change the meaning. The federal government is just as bad, since under the NFA a silencer is a firearm, but a revolver isn't, and a short barreled rifle is but a longer barreled rifle is not, even though the stripped receiver of a machinegun is, but the stripped receiver of a rifle isn't.