Place of Business is Close to a School

[bejones1]

Just wanted some clarification if anyone knows. My Place of business is within 1000 feet of an elementary school. I know you are allowed to carry at your business, but does being close to a school override that stipulation?

If anyone has had a similar situation feel free to chime in.

[Curmudgeon]

You PA LTCF allows you to move around freely within the Federal 1000' Gun Free School Zone, as long as you remain off school property and out of school buildings. Do you have one?

[bejones1]

Yes I do. Just getting into all of this and got it about a week ago along with my first pistol. I would like to carry as much as possible and just be smart about it by knowing as many of the rules and regs as possible. Don't want to get cited for something stupid.

Thanks.

[Philbert]

The federal law does not include private property off school grounds, but you need a PA LTCF to carry a firearm (except cased and locked) on public property within 1000 ft of a school.

[mpan72]

Yes I do. Just getting into all of this and got it about a week ago along with my first pistol. I would like to carry as much as possible and just be smart about it by knowing as many of the rules and regs as possible. Don't want to get cited for something stupid.

Thanks.

Your ltcf covers you in many instances. I do not believe we should need one but as of now it is the best option to keep someone on the legal side.
There are more than a few circumstances of carrying a gun that could get someone not completly up on the law in serious trouble. The firearm laws are some of the most complex and confusing laws on the books. I personaly believe this is intentional to give a broader interpretation so DAs have more leeway in prosecuting people.

Heer is some good reading. Read the statutes and then come back for some threads on the meanings. There are some very informative threads but you need to pick out the usefull info and ignore the opinion stated as fact.
http://reference.pafoa.org/statutes/

[tl_3237]

To amplify on a general question you posed, actually an LTCF is not a requirement to either carry about your fixed place of business nor is it required if your business in school zone pursuant to the GFSZA.

§ 6106. Firearms not to be carried without a license.

(a) Offense defined.--

(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), any person who
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 under this chapter...

18 USC 922 (q)(2)

(B) Subparagraph (A) does not apply to the possession of a firearm-

(i) on private property not part of school grounds;

[Bill67]

Since you are in my area, is your business one that we could patronize?

[bejones1]

Since you are in my area, is your business one that we could patronize?

I would say yes, save for the fact that it's a church, so probably not. Sorry brother.

[tl_3237]

I would say yes, save for the fact that it's a church, so probably not. Sorry brother.

Now you have me confused. You originally referred to it as your "business"; later you identified it as a "church".

You should be aware that, under the Commonwealth statute for carrying concealed/vehicle (18 PA CS §6106), the "exception" for carrying about a fixed place of business would seem only to apply to those with a "proprietary interest" in the business; it does not include employees of the business.

Typically a pastor is an employee of the denomination to which the church belongs . It is hard to imagine a person having an ownership interest in a church aside from the real estate from which the church plies its "business".

Could you expand on your participation and relationship with the "church"? Do you define the dogma and liturgy of the "church"?

[Bill67]

In the Boro of New Britain, There is a church directly next door to an Elementary school. If this is the Church that you are speaking of, I have been there and at the school as well. Having raised 2 boys in the Central Bucks SD, they both went to that school, And I attend services from time to time at the church. (if this is where you are) I am curious as to your role in the church as it applies to your question as well.