“Eleven states have said that they will not become Joe Biden’s puppets, they will not impose any unconstitutional federal gun control, and more states are on the way,” [GOA’s Erich] Pratt said. “And we certainly hope that Pennsylvania will be one of them.”

Republican members of the State Senate on Wednesday unveiled new legislation designed to limit the reach of federal gun restrictions and prevent state employees, agents and officials from enforcing them.

Senator Doug Mastriano

The bill, dubbed the Right to Bear Arms Protection Act, is sponsored by some of the chamber’s most conservative members, including Sens. Doug Mastriano and Cris Dush. The duo unveiled the legislation on the state Capitol steps Wednesday morning, joined by gun rights advocates.

Mastriano said the policy has taken on renewed importance following remarks from President Joe Biden in April, where Biden called on Congress to pass a series of bills that would close gun purchasing loopholes and expand background checks.

The new legislation, which is outlined in Senate Bill 624, would deem all federal policies designed to register, restrict or ban the ownership of guns, ammunition and gun accessories as “unenforceable” by state employees and agents. Under the bill, these “state actors” would be at risk of losing qualified immunity, as well as potential termination of employment and certain benefits…

“You should have the right to defend yourself. It’s a God-given right, it’s not given by man,” Mastriano said. “So we are here today to stand firm with the people of Pennsylvania and declare that no matter what edicts, or presidential proclamations or federal laws that may come from politicians or bureaucrats in Washington D.C. — our constitutional rights will be defended.”

The legislation was welcomed by gun rights advocates, including Erich Pratt, the senior vice president of Gun Owners of America, who said Biden’s recent call for gun law reforms represents a “full attack by the White House on our Second Amendment rights.”

“Eleven states have said that they will not become Joe Biden’s puppets, they will not impose any unconstitutional federal gun control, and more states are on the way,” Pratt said. “And we certainly hope that Pennsylvania will be one of them.”

Read more at City and State Pennsylvania