PFA Weaponization Bill Passes House

HB 1909—a bill that uses Pennsylvania’s Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders to strip citizens of their firearm rights—has passed the House by a 104–94 vote.

Five Republicans crossed party lines to join anti-gun Democrats in advancing the measure: Sheryl Delozier, Natalie Mihalek, Brenda Pugh, K.C. Tomlinson, and Martina White.

The bill now moves to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration.

If HB 1909 passes the Senate, PFAs — orders often entered ex parte with only one party present before a judge — would trigger automatic criminal penalty enhancements for certain offenses.

That means things like simple harassment, disorderly conduct, or reckless behavior alleged to have occurred “during the violation” of a PFA could be upgraded to higher-level misdemeanors or felonies simply because a PFA exists, regardless of whether a firearm or violence was involved.

These upgraded convictions can then:

• Result in automatic loss of firearm rights under Pennsylvania law, and
• Qualify as federal “misdemeanor crimes of domestic violence” (MCDV) — triggering lifetime federal gun bans with no restoration process under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(9).

Make no mistake — this bill isn’t about serious violence, it’s about turning PFAs into a backdoor mechanism for gun prohibition. A civil protective order would become the predicate for enhanced criminal penalties and permanent gun rights loss.

Gun owners across Pennsylvania should not be silent on this legislation. If you value your rights, now is the time to take action.

That’s why I need you to contact your State Senator today (by using the form above) and urge them to oppose HB 1909. Let them know you will not stand for legislation that uses PFAs to strip away your constitutional rights.