As your constituent, I am disappointed by some of the official actions taken in response to the COVID-19 state of emergency. These actions have severely curtailed my right to keep and bear arms. Some sheriffs are now declining to process licenses to carry firearms (LTCFs) for fear of contagion. These refusals not only restrict my constitutional rights, but they place my personal safety in jeopardy and subject citizens to criminal action. You see, during a state of emergency, only those who possess LTCFs may carry firearms legally. And if the sheriffs are not processing applications or renewals, then citizens without permits will be subject to prosecution if they chose to carry a gun to protect themselves--at a time when an LTCF is needed the most! But it doesn't stop there! Anti-gun mayors across the country are seeking new emergency powers to infringe upon our Second Amendment rights. For example, the City of Champaign, Illinois passed a resolution that could ban the sale of firearms during an emergency. And given the track record of Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenny, what's to say that these local officials won't violate the law even more egregiously than they have before? Pennsylvania state law must also change. PA officials should have ZERO authority to ban the sale and transportation of firearms during a state of emergency. We only have to remember how the rights of citizens were violated during Hurricane Katrina to know that this power must be curtailed. That is why I am asking you to take the following actions on four bills before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to protect the liberties of all Pennsylvanians: 1. HB 1412 (Constitutional Carry). Report from Committee. Representative Aaron Bernstine's (R-10) bill would eliminate the requirement to seek government permission to obtain an LTCF before carrying a firearm. 2. HB 1747 (Protect Firearms During State of Emergency). Representative Matt Dowling's (R-51) bill would repeal the requirement to have an LTCF during a state of emergency and also eliminate the regulation of firearms during such an emergency. 3. HB 303 (Repeal Draconian Firearms Transportation laws). Representative Eric Nelson's (R-57) bill would eliminate Pennsylvania's severe firearms transportation laws and allow the transportation of firearms by a non-prohibited person for any lawful purpose where a firearm can be lawfully possessed. 4. HB 1066 (Strengthen Preemption). Representative Mark Keller's (R-86) bill would strengthen Pennsylvania's firearms preemption law and allow citizens to recover damages and legal fees if a local government enacts its own gun control laws. So, please stand up for the constitutional rights of all Pennsylvanians and report/pass these four bills.

As your constituent, I am disappointed by some of the official actions taken in response to the COVID-19 state of emergency. These actions have severely curtailed my right to keep and bear arms. Some sheriffs are now declining to process licenses to carry firearms (LTCFs) for fear of contagion. These refusals not only restrict my constitutional rights, but they place my personal safety in jeopardy and subject citizens to criminal action. You see, during a state of emergency, only those who possess LTCFs may carry firearms legally. And if the sheriffs are not processing applications or renewals, then citizens without permits will be subject to prosecution if they chose to carry a gun to protect themselves--at a time when an LTCF is needed the most! But it doesn't stop there! Anti-gun mayors across the country are seeking new emergency powers to infringe upon our Second Amendment rights. For example, the City of Champaign, Illinois passed a resolution that could ban the sale of firearms during an emergency. And given the track record of Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenny, what's to say that these local officials won't violate the law even more egregiously than they have before? Pennsylvania state law must also change. PA officials should have ZERO authority to ban the sale and transportation of firearms during a state of emergency. We only have to remember how the rights of citizens were violated during Hurricane Katrina to know that this power must be curtailed. That is why I am asking you to take the following actions on four bills before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to protect the liberties of all Pennsylvanians: 1. HB 1412 (Constitutional Carry). Report from Committee. Representative Aaron Bernstine's (R-10) bill would eliminate the requirement to seek government permission to obtain an LTCF before carrying a firearm. 2. HB 1747 (Protect Firearms During State of Emergency). Representative Matt Dowling's (R-51) bill would repeal the requirement to have an LTCF during a state of emergency and also eliminate the regulation of firearms during such an emergency. 3. HB 303 (Repeal Draconian Firearms Transportation laws). Representative Eric Nelson's (R-57) bill would eliminate Pennsylvania's severe firearms transportation laws and allow the transportation of firearms by a non-prohibited person for any lawful purpose where a firearm can be lawfully possessed. 4. HB 1066 (Strengthen Preemption). Representative Mark Keller's (R-86) bill would strengthen Pennsylvania's firearms preemption law and allow citizens to recover damages and legal fees if a local government enacts its own gun control laws. So, please stand up for the constitutional rights of all Pennsylvanians and report/pass these four bills.

As your constituent, I am disappointed by some of the official actions taken in response to the COVID-19 state of emergency. These actions have severely curtailed my right to keep and bear arms. Some sheriffs are now declining to process licenses to carry firearms (LTCFs) for fear of contagion. These refusals not only restrict my constitutional rights, but they place my personal safety in jeopardy and subject citizens to criminal action. You see, during a state of emergency, only those who possess LTCFs may carry firearms legally. And if the sheriffs are not processing applications or renewals, then citizens without permits will be subject to prosecution if they chose to carry a gun to protect themselves--at a time when an LTCF is needed the most! But it doesn't stop there! Anti-gun mayors across the country are seeking new emergency powers to infringe upon our Second Amendment rights. For example, the City of Champaign, Illinois passed a resolution that could ban the sale of firearms during an emergency. And given the track record of Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenny, what's to say that these local officials won't violate the law even more egregiously than they have before? Pennsylvania state law must also change. PA officials should have ZERO authority to ban the sale and transportation of firearms during a state of emergency. We only have to remember how the rights of citizens were violated during Hurricane Katrina to know that this power must be curtailed. That is why I am asking you to take the following actions on four bills before the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to protect the liberties of all Pennsylvanians: 1. HB 1412 (Constitutional Carry). Report from Committee. Representative Aaron Bernstine's (R-10) bill would eliminate the requirement to seek government permission to obtain an LTCF before carrying a firearm. 2. HB 1747 (Protect Firearms During State of Emergency). Representative Matt Dowling's (R-51) bill would repeal the requirement to have an LTCF during a state of emergency and also eliminate the regulation of firearms during such an emergency. 3. HB 303 (Repeal Draconian Firearms Transportation laws). Representative Eric Nelson's (R-57) bill would eliminate Pennsylvania's severe firearms transportation laws and allow the transportation of firearms by a non-prohibited person for any lawful purpose where a firearm can be lawfully possessed. 4. HB 1066 (Strengthen Preemption). Representative Mark Keller's (R-86) bill would strengthen Pennsylvania's firearms preemption law and allow citizens to recover damages and legal fees if a local government enacts its own gun control laws. So, please stand up for the constitutional rights of all Pennsylvanians and report/pass these four bills.