The Pennsylvania chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots networks, released the following statement in response to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passing SB 565, a dangerous bill which would allow concealed carry of loaded handguns in public places without a permit, and would further weaken the Commonwealth’s public safety laws. The bill, having passed the Senate in a late night vote last week, will go to Governor Tom Wolf’s desk.
“Today, state lawmakers continued their efforts to force through hazardous gun laws that would do nothing but needlessly endanger the lives of all Pennsylvanians,” said Sarah Hall, a volunteer with the Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Enacting permitless carry would dismantle Pennsylvania’s long-standing and common-sense permitting system, undermining the principles of responsible gun ownership and weakening public safety in our communities. This law would take us backwards in the fight to end gun violence, and we are thankful to Governor Wolf for his promise to veto.”
The adoption of permitless carry laws strips away a critical tool that law enforcement uses to differentiate between responsible gun owners and those who should not be able to carry a loaded weapon in public. States that have weakened their firearm permitting system have experienced an 11 percent increase in handgun homicide rates and a 13-15 percent increase in violent crime rates.
Information on gun violence in Pennsylvania can be found here.