Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is set to evaluate a series of legislative proposals aimed at tightening firearm regulations, including bans on 3D-printed guns and parts, assault rifles, and introducing new mental health requirements for gun ownership.
Among the proposed legislation, one bill seeks to prohibit the future sale of firearms classified as ‘assault weapons’. Representatives Benjamin Sanchez (D-Montgomery County) and Aerion Abney (D-Allegheny County) have spearheaded HB336, which aims to halt the sale of assault weapons. However, exemptions are made for members of the U.S. Armed Forces, Reserve, National Guard, or law enforcement on official duty. Individuals who already legally own such weapons prior to the bill’s enforcement will be grandfathered in.
Another bill, HB335 by Rep. Sanchez, targets “multi-burst trigger activators,” such as binary triggers and bump stocks, designating them as offensive weapons. This classification would place them alongside machine guns, sawed-off shotguns, and grenades. Rep. Melissa L. Shusterman (D-Chester County) is advancing HB1190 to regulate 3D-printed firearms on par with traditional firearms, necessitating a license for their production.
Additional measures include HB1157 by Rep. Greg Scott (D-Montgomery County), which seeks to expedite the background check process to under 96 hours. HB777, introduced by Reps. Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia) and Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia), focuses on banning the manufacture, sale, and purchase of untraceable gun parts, also known as “ghost gun” parts, aiming to address loopholes in the current state laws.