PA: Report and Pass HB 1747
While HB 1747 passed the House, it is now stuck in the Senate Judiciary Committee — and with only 12 session days left, the bill is in danger of dying.
That’s why I need your help to get HB 1747 reported from committee and on to the Senate floor for a recorded vote.
As of today, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair, Lisa Baker (R-20), has not committed to running this important bill.
And that’s just not acceptable.
Gun owners have suffered greatly at the hands of Governor Wolf during COVID-19, and the legislature must act to check his power.
HB 1747 (Dowling-R) eliminates the Governor’s ability to “suspend or limit the sale, dispensing or transportation…of firearms” during a state of emergency.
It also removes the requirement to have a License to Carry Firearms (LTCF) in order to carry a gun openly during a state of emergency.
We only need to look at the recent violence, rioting, and looting to know that citizens need to be armed to ensure their personal and family’s safety.
But due to COVID-19 restrictions, LTCF applicants in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are waiting up to a year to get an appointment with the sheriff to obtain a license!
HB 1747 will ensure that the rights of citizens to defend themselves will not be restricted when they need it the most.
That’s why I need you to take action today (see above) and urge your state senator to report and pass HB 1747 without amendments immediately.
Let him or her know that your right to self-defense should never be curtailed or restricted during a state of emergency.