Anyone Can Challenge A City's Gun Laws, PA Supreme Court Rules

Pittsburgh PA

20 October, 2021

3:55 PM

Description

HARRISBURG, PA — A city's gun restrictions can be challenged even by those who have not been charged with violating them, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled Wednesday. In a 4-3 ruling, the high court determined Firearm Owners Against Crime and other plaintiffs could legally challenge Harrisburg's city gun ordinances. Harrisburg had enacted laws in which criminal charges could be filed for firing a weapon outside of a gun range, possessing guns in parks, not reporting lost or stolen guns within two days of noticing their absence and unaccompanied children having firearms outside their homes. The court ruled that the laws could be challenged on constitutional grounds by individuals and organizations without criminal charges preceding them. Firearm Owners Against Crime was formed in Pittsburgh in 1993 and became a formal political action committee in 1994. The organization, which claims to have about 1,600 members, called the court's decision "tremendous news" in a post on its Facebook page. CeaseFirePA, an anti-gun violence group, tweeted a response to the decision from director Adam Garber stating the court's decision could scare local officials searching for new solutions to "a public health crisis that is claiming the lives of their constituents on a daily basis." The high court's decision came a day after the Republican-controlled stateS enate Local Government Committee approved a bill that would let anyone damaged by a local government's firearms laws file a lawsuit against that entity. The litigation could be filed by anyone in or out of state. See the entire Supreme Court ruling here. Be the first to know what's happening in your community and region. With a free Patch subscription, you'll always be up to date on local and state news: https://patch.com/subscribe.