Is Pennsylvania firearms friendly?

[Stonesriver1862]

I am already aware that the Pennsylvania Constitution makes a clear statement on the right of a Commonwealth citizen to bear arms. A handful of other states have similar provisions. This may ultimately prove to be more potent than the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. Here is what I'd like your opinions on:

I am from your neighboring Free and Independent Socialist Republic of New Jersey. Yep, the State that is always trying to deprive you of your constitutional rights because your State's lax gun laws are responsible for arming the criminals in New Jersey. Just listen to Jon Corizne or read the Newark Star Ledger -- they will tell you all about it.

Meanwhile, my State is relentlessly stripping me of my constitutional rights. I am a member of the ANJRPC. It's getting to the point that I am spending as much to defend my rights here as I am enjoying the exercise of them. Between high taxes, no services and a relentless attack by the NJ political establishment on my fundamental rights, I am to a point where I am ready to leave the State. I am considering moving to Pennsylvania.

1. Is PA a firearms friendly State? Your governor is not and your State is solidly Democrat Blue -- and nationally the Dems, on Second Amendment issues, are absolutely dedicated to civilian disarmament. Sorry, but I don't want to leave NJ to have the same problem in PA. I plan in retirement to more actively engage in shooting sports.

2. Is it possible to acquire enough open space and have a safe and clean home shooting range without being zoned or hounded to bankruptcy by zoning or State environmental authorities (in NJ, the DEP is aggressively harrassing and shutting down shooting ranges)?

3. Are some counties more firearms friendly than others in terms of promptly processing things like handgun permits? Which counties should be avoided at all costs?

4. Is PA a conceal carry State?

Any feedback would be helpful. Thanks.

[elston32]

I am already aware that the Pennsylvania Constitution makes a clear statement on the right of a Commonwealth citizen to bear arms. A handful of other states have similar provisions. This may ultimately prove to be more potent than the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. Here is what I'd like your opinions on:

I am from your neighboring Free and Independent Socialist Republic of New Jersey. Yep, the State that is always trying to deprive you of your constitutional rights because your State's lax gun laws are responsible for arming the criminals in New Jersey. Just listen to Jon Corizne or read the Newark Star Ledger -- they will tell you all about it.

Meanwhile, my State is relentlessly stripping me of my constitutional rights. I am a member of the ANJRPC. It's getting to the point that I am spending as much to defend my rights here as I am enjoying the exercise of them. Between high taxes, no services and a relentless attack by the NJ political establishment on my fundamental rights, I am to a point where I am ready to leave the State. I am considering moving to Pennsylvania.

1. Is PA a firearms friendly State? Your governor is not and your State is solidly Democrat Blue -- and nationally the Dems, on Second Amendment issues, are absolutely dedicated to civilian disarmament. Sorry, but I don't want to leave NJ to have the same problem in PA. I plan in retirement to more actively engage in shooting sports.

2. Is it possible to acquire enough open space and have a safe and clean home shooting range without being zoned or hounded to bankruptcy by zoning or State environmental authorities (in NJ, the DEP is aggressively harrassing and shutting down shooting ranges)?

3. Are some counties more firearms friendly than others in terms of promptly processing things like handgun permits? Which counties should be avoided at all costs?

4. Is PA a conceal carry State?

Any feedback would be helpful. Thanks.

Welcome!!!

All the feedback you desire can be had at this site.

A casual perusal of the discussion forum, the sections on law and politics should prove particularly fruitful.

Further, feedback on your more specific can be had by searching using the Google search box above.

Stay well.


---elston

[granuale]

1. Is PA a firearms friendly State? Your governor is not and your State is solidly Democrat Blue -- and nationally the Dems, on Second Amendment issues, are absolutely dedicated to civilian disarmament. Sorry, but I don't want to leave NJ to have the same problem in PA. I plan in retirement to more actively engage in shooting sports.

Yes. We are a shall issue state for concealed carry, have open carry, and a very active hunting & shooting culture in much of the state.

2. Is it possible to acquire enough open space and have a safe and clean home shooting range without being zoned or hounded to bankruptcy by zoning or State environmental authorities (in NJ, the DEP is aggressively harrassing and shutting down shooting ranges)?

Yes.

3. Are some counties more firearms friendly than others in terms of promptly processing things like handgun permits? Which counties should be avoided at all costs?

Yes. Philadelphia county is the worst. Generally the lower the population density the better for gunnies.

4. Is PA a conceal carry State?

Yes. Pennsylvania is a shall issue state.

[1861]

if you just cross over in the Philly area you won,t accomplish alot . get over here around south central PA and it is very rural and gun friendly . LTCF are easy to aquire

[Bmaninmifco]

I am already aware that the Pennsylvania Constitution makes a clear statement on the right of a Commonwealth citizen to bear arms. A handful of other states have similar provisions. This may ultimately prove to be more potent than the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. Here is what I'd like your opinions on:

I am from your neighboring Free and Independent Socialist Republic of New Jersey. Yep, the State that is always trying to deprive you of your constitutional rights because your State's lax gun laws are responsible for arming the criminals in New Jersey. Just listen to Jon Corizne or read the Newark Star Ledger -- they will tell you all about it.

Meanwhile, my State is relentlessly stripping me of my constitutional rights. I am a member of the ANJRPC. It's getting to the point that I am spending as much to defend my rights here as I am enjoying the exercise of them. Between high taxes, no services and a relentless attack by the NJ political establishment on my fundamental rights, I am to a point where I am ready to leave the State. I am considering moving to Pennsylvania.

1. Is PA a firearms friendly State? Your governor is not and your State is solidly Democrat Blue -- and nationally the Dems, on Second Amendment issues, are absolutely dedicated to civilian disarmament. Sorry, but I don't want to leave NJ to have the same problem in PA. I plan in retirement to more actively engage in shooting sports.

2. Is it possible to acquire enough open space and have a safe and clean home shooting range without being zoned or hounded to bankruptcy by zoning or State environmental authorities (in NJ, the DEP is aggressively harrassing and shutting down shooting ranges)?

3. Are some counties more firearms friendly than others in terms of promptly processing things like handgun permits? Which counties should be avoided at all costs?

4. Is PA a conceal carry State?

Any feedback would be helpful. Thanks.

1. Solid democrat blue maybe, As you stated our constitution is pretty clear on it. Also we have the most NRA members of any state in the country. Check out the OC/CC forum for a thread started by Pa Patriot it' stickied it will tell you all of your gun rights in pa.
2. Can you buy enough land sure in my county I know there is a farm for sale right now with 138 acres should be more than enough for your own range.
3. Stay away from Philly. Look at the the "Country counties"
4. PA offers a LTCF (Licsense to carry firearms) Which allows you to conceal carry and carry openly in cities of the first class(Philly).
OC is completely legal everywhere else as long as you are legally able to do so.

[LittleRedToyota]

1. Is PA a firearms friendly State? Your governor is not and your State is solidly Democrat Blue -- and nationally the Dems, on Second Amendment issues, are absolutely dedicated to civilian disarmament. Sorry, but I don't want to leave NJ to have the same problem in PA. I plan in retirement to more actively engage in shooting sports.

i would say PA is in the top 5 states for gun rights. shall issue, very few carry restrictions. NFA friendly. non-FFL transfers of long guns (would be nice to have for handguns, too, of course, but...) our laws aren't perfect, but they are very, very good in comparison to just about all other states.

i would call PA a democrat state, but many rural pennsylvanians are pro-life, pro-gun democrats. the party divide came down a long time ago in rural PA and was largely based on the democrats support of unions...and then everyone just kept being a democrat because everyone always was a democrat. but, they're often closer to the national republican party platorm in many ways that the national democrat platform.

2. Is it possible to acquire enough open space and have a safe and clean home shooting range without being zoned or hounded to bankruptcy by zoning or State environmental authorities (in NJ, the DEP is aggressively harrassing and shutting down shooting ranges)?

yes. northcentral PA, in particular, is very sparsely populated. you could buy land in some places that would put you miles from your nearest neighbor. and just about everyone up there hunts, so they aren't afraid of guns.

4. Is PA a conceal carry State?

as mentioned above, you need an ltcf to carry concealed...and also to carry openly in philly. you also need an ltcf to carry a handgun in a car.

[Stonesriver1862]

Wow! Did not anticipate this rapid a response. Thanks to those responding and I would like to learn more.

I have ruled out NY for the same reasons that I want to leave NJ. Have little interest in going any further south than Virginia because I'd like not to be too far from family in NY and NJ. It's sad that the refusal of the political establishments of those two States to respect constitutional rights is driving my decision, but I can't afford to risk further erosion of them. The NJ mailorder ammo ban, for example, makes it hard for me to buy the difficult to find cartridges like .38 super (not +p) and crossover ammo like 44-40 and 45 Long Colt which are useable in my rifles. I'd love to shoot handgun with my brother-in-law in NY but neither of us can lawfully bring our handguns into each other's states to shoot. That's why PA may be my best bet. But, I'd sure be disappointed to learn that Rendell and big city gun control pols from the anchor population centers of Pittsburgh and Philly could do just what the pols from NY and NJ have done to us.

[mjfletcher]

I am already aware that the Pennsylvania Constitution makes a clear statement on the right of a Commonwealth citizen to bear arms. A handful of other states have similar provisions. This may ultimately prove to be more potent than the Second Amendment to the US Constitution. Here is what I'd like your opinions on:

I am from your neighboring Free and Independent Socialist Republic of New Jersey. Yep, the State that is always trying to deprive you of your constitutional rights because your State's lax gun laws are responsible for arming the criminals in New Jersey. Just listen to Jon Corizne or read the Newark Star Ledger -- they will tell you all about it.

Meanwhile, my State is relentlessly stripping me of my constitutional rights. I am a member of the ANJRPC. It's getting to the point that I am spending as much to defend my rights here as I am enjoying the exercise of them. Between high taxes, no services and a relentless attack by the NJ political establishment on my fundamental rights, I am to a point where I am ready to leave the State. I am considering moving to Pennsylvania.

1. Is PA a firearms friendly State? Your governor is not and your State is solidly Democrat Blue -- and nationally the Dems, on Second Amendment issues, are absolutely dedicated to civilian disarmament. Sorry, but I don't want to leave NJ to have the same problem in PA. I plan in retirement to more actively engage in shooting sports.

2. Is it possible to acquire enough open space and have a safe and clean home shooting range without being zoned or hounded to bankruptcy by zoning or State environmental authorities (in NJ, the DEP is aggressively harrassing and shutting down shooting ranges)?

3. Are some counties more firearms friendly than others in terms of promptly processing things like handgun permits? Which counties should be avoided at all costs?

4. Is PA a conceal carry State?

Any feedback would be helpful. Thanks.

Others have already answered your questions, but heres something that will provide pretty much everything you might want to know on firearms rights in PA:

http://www.paopencarry.org/PennsylvaniaGunRights.pdf

[Longshot]

You will find that we have a lot of active people in this state fighting gun control, it is not easy and always seems to be an up hill battle. But just this last year I believe, our wonderful state shot down a few very strong gun control bills that Rendell supported. I don't see PA falling to soon, but anything is possible. Just stay away from philly, and you should be fine

Here are a couple good threads that will help explain a few things. Welcome to PA from a former member of the PRNJ
http://www.pafoa.org/forum/concealed...carry-you.html

http://www.pafoa.org/forum/concealed...nsylvania.html

[LittleRedToyota]

But, I'd sure be disappointed to learn that Rendell and big city gun control pols from the anchor population centers of Pittsburgh and Philly could do just what the pols from NY and NJ have done to us.

pittsburgh is actually not really anit-gun...in fact, there are a lot of pro-gun people here. both my state rep and state senator are pro-gun. as of about a year ago, at lesat, allegheny county had more LTCF holders than any other county in the state.

there are a couple of anti-gun state reps and senators from around here, but not that many. most of them come from the philly area. but, in reality, they aren't that big of a block...which is why they can't get any gun control through in spite of trying to pass the same bills every frickin' year.

anyway, we can also use another pro-gunner here in PA, so i hope you choose PA.