Pennsylvania law comprehensively preempts local regulation of firearms under 18 Pa.C.S. §6120. Cities and counties cannot regulate lawful ownership, possession, transfer, or transportation of firearms or ammunition. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Allentown have all attempted local gun ordinances and lost in PA appellate courts.
Pennsylvania's firearms preemption is among the strongest in the nation. 18 Pa.C.S. §6120(a) provides: "No county, municipality or township may in any manner regulate the lawful ownership, possession, transfer or transportation of firearms, ammunition or ammunition components when carried or transported for purposes not prohibited by the laws of this Commonwealth." The PA Supreme Court reaffirmed this preemption in Ortiz v. Commonwealth (1996) and again in NRA v. Philadelphia. Multiple cities have attempted local ordinances — Philadelphia's lost-and-stolen reporting, assault weapons ban, and large-capacity magazine restrictions; Pittsburgh's 2019 post-Tree of Life ordinance package; Allentown's open-carry restriction — all were struck down by Commonwealth Court as preempted. License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) is administered by county sheriffs under 18 Pa.C.S. §6109, valid for 5 years, and recognized statewide. Pennsylvania does not require a permit to purchase long guns; handgun purchases require a PICS background check.
Cities passing preempted firearm ordinances face civil suits and injunctions; individuals subjected to such ordinances have a statutory right of action for damages and attorney's fees under 18 Pa.C.S. §6120(a.2) (added by Act 79 of 2023, though portions remain in litigation). Violating state firearm laws is generally a misdemeanor or felony under the Uniform Firearms Act.
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See how Bethlehem's local firearms preemption rules stack up against other locations.
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