Was there a 3 day waiting period in PA at some time in the past?

[MikeStull]

A group of my friends and I had a conversation over lunch today. Some recall a 3 day waiting period in PA, others did not. I purchased my first gun in 1992 and don't recall the waiting period but that may be my memory fading. The question remains, was there a 3 day waiting period? If so, when did that stop? We theorized that it ended when the telephone call system went into place.

[STBear]

Yes there was. Not sure when it ended. I also believe it ended when the insta check went into effect.

[stainless]

Absolutely was. '70's and I'm rather sure it went into the '80's. Don't remember when it changed cuz I couldn't afford many guns back then.

[stainless]

That was also the era when one needed permission from the local authorities to carry concealed.

[internet troll]

That was also the era when one needed permission from the local authorities to carry concealed.

I like hearing stories like that. Shows that the 2nd has improved in some areas.

[gghbi]

There was for a period of time, with exceptions for holders of a LTCF. It was replaced by PICs. I never remember needing local approval for the LTCF, just the county sheriff, and I have had one since they days they were annual and made of flimsy paper which barely lasted the year in your wallet. If the county sheriff contacted the local PD, it was not something I was aware of.

[JDA58]

Yes we did...Can't remember when It ended.. in through mid to late 80's maybe early 90's.. I remember having to send the paper work to the County Sheriff's office
and if we heard nothing back in 3 days It was good to go.. Now most of the time that paper work didn't get mailed out till later in the day.. one maybe two days to get there??? didn't give much time to run background checks..

[snuffy19608]

Yes we did...Can't remember when It ended.. in through mid to late 80's maybe early 90's.. I remember having to send the paper work to the County Sheriff's office
and if we heard nothing back in 3 days It was good to go.. Now most of the time that paper work didn't get mailed out till later in the day.. one maybe two days to get there??? didn't give much time to run background checks..

It ended in the early 90's, I bought a handgun when I came back from Desert Storm in May 1991 and had the waiting period. I also remember my Dad having to put each handgun he wanted to carry on the back of his LTCF.

[57springer]

To add to it in the 80s you had to have at least one LEO as a reference to get a LTCF . The cops I asked to sign at the time said no, and I remember one in particular who went into a rant about only cops and military should own guns, period . I dont remember when this requirement changed , I half think someone challenged it in court . Anyone remember ??

[Here4now]

That was also the era when one needed permission from the local authorities to carry concealed.

I believe that ended when PA went from May issue to Shall issue, whenever that might have been. When PA was still a May-issue state, I received my LTCF when I was in my early 20’s and had to get signed off by the local Chief. I think at the time there were only 3 of us in the whole township. I was able to get it because I carried large sums of cash (10’s of thousands of $) when the bricklayers union required our employees to be paid in cash.