SB 148 — An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous articles, further providing for licenses.

PRINTER'S NO.    95

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                        SENATE BILL
                        No. 148
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY HUGHES, COMITTA, FONTANA, STREET, KEARNEY,
        HAYWOOD, COSTA, KANE, TARTAGLIONE, SCHWANK AND KIM,
        JANUARY 22, 2025

     REFERRED TO JUDICIARY, JANUARY 22, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
 2      Consolidated Statutes, in firearms and other dangerous
 3      articles, further providing for licenses.
 4      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
 5   hereby enacts as follows:
 6      Section 1.    Section 6109(c) of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
 7   Consolidated Statutes is amended, subsection (e)(1) is amended
 8   by adding a subparagraph and the section is amended by adding a
 9   subsection to read:
10   § 6109.    Licenses.
11      * * *
12      (c)    Form of application and content.--The application for a
13   license to carry a firearm shall be uniform throughout this
14   Commonwealth and shall be on a form prescribed by the
15   Pennsylvania State Police. The form may contain provisions, not
16   exceeding one page, to assure compliance with this section.
17   Issuing authorities shall use only the application form
18   prescribed by the Pennsylvania State Police. One of the
 1   following reasons for obtaining a firearm license shall be set
 2   forth in the application: self-defense, employment, hunting and
 3   fishing, target shooting, gun collecting or another proper
 4   reason. The application form shall be dated and signed by the
 5   applicant and shall contain the following statement:
 6            I have never been convicted of a crime that prohibits me
 7            from possessing or acquiring a firearm under Federal or
 8            State law. I am of sound mind and have never been
 9            committed to a mental institution. I have successfully
10            completed a firearms safety course as required by law. I
11            hereby certify that the statements contained herein are
12            true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.
13            I understand that, if I knowingly make any false
14            statements herein, I am subject to penalties prescribed
15            by law. I authorize the sheriff, or his designee, or, in
16            the case of first class cities, the chief or head of the
17            police department, or his designee, to inspect only those
18            records or documents relevant to information required for
19            this application. If I am issued a license and knowingly
20            become ineligible to legally possess or acquire firearms,
21            I will promptly notify the sheriff of the county in which
22            I reside or, if I reside in a city of the first class,
23            the chief of police of that city.
24      * * *
25      (e)   Issuance of license.--
26            (1)   A license to carry a firearm shall be for the
27      purpose of carrying a firearm concealed on or about one's
28      person or in a vehicle and shall be issued if, after an
29      investigation not to exceed 45 days, it appears that the
30      applicant is an individual concerning whom no good cause

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 1    exists to deny the license. A license shall not be issued to
 2    any of the following:
 3              * * *
 4              (xv)    An individual who has not demonstrated
 5        competence with a firearm in accordance with subsection
 6        (e.1).
 7        * * *
 8    (e.1)   Firearms competency.--
 9        (1)   An individual may demonstrate competence with a
10    firearm by any one of the following:
11              (i)    Completion of a hunter education or hunter
12        safety course approved by the Pennsylvania Game
13        Commission or a similar agency of another state.
14              (ii)    Completion of a National Rifle Association
15        firearms safety or training course.
16              (iii)    Completion of a firearms safety or training
17        course or class available to the general public offered
18        by a law enforcement agency, educational institution,
19        private or public institution or organization or firearms
20        training school, utilizing instructors certified by the
21        National Rifle Association or the Pennsylvania State
22        Police.
23              (iv)    Completion of a law enforcement firearms safety
24        or training course or class offered for law enforcement
25        or security enforcement personnel.
26              (v)    Presentation of evidence of equivalent
27        experience with a firearm through participation in
28        organized shooting competition or military service.
29              (vi)    Completion of a firearms training or safety
30        course or class conducted by a State-certified or

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 1        National Rifle Association certified firearms instructor.
 2        (2)   The following shall constitute evidence of
 3    qualification under this subsection:
 4              (i)    a photocopy of a certificate of completion of
 5        any of the courses or classes under paragraph (1);
 6              (ii)    an affidavit from the instructor, school, club,
 7        organization or group that conducted or taught the course
 8        or class attesting to the completion of the course or
 9        class by the applicant; or
10              (iii)    a copy of a document which shows completion of
11        the course or class or evidences participation in
12        firearms competition.
13        (3)   A person who conducts a course or class under
14    paragraph (1)(ii), (iii) or (vi) or who, as an instructor,
15    attests to the completion of the course or class, shall
16    maintain records certifying that the person or instructor
17    observed the student safely handle and discharge the firearm.
18    A record shall be retained for two years following completion
19    of the course or class.
20    * * *
21    Section 2.      This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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