How Pennsylvania Lawmakers Worked to Prevent or Enable Gun Violence in the Past Session

State lawmakers proposed dozens of bills throughout the 2021-2022 legislative session aimed at addressing gun violence in Pennsylvania, from banning assault weapons to universal background checks.

In Pennsylvania, roughly 1,600 people die from gun violence each year, and 3,000 more are injured, according to CeaseFirePA, a firearms safety advocacy group.

The most recent state budget, passed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly and signed into law by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf, allocates $35 million in gun violence prevention funding. Earlier this year, Wolf announced another $15 million investment to combat the issue through American Rescue Plan funds.

Legislative Democrats have called for stricter firearms restrictions, including universal background checks, red flag laws, and mandatory lost and stolen gun reporting guidelines. However, Republicans have effectively killed these measures by voting them down  or not calling their legislation up for a committee vote.

Here are the bills proposed during the 2021-2022 session aimed at addressing or enabling gun violence: 

House Bills

HB 235

House Bill 235 was introduced by Rep. Perry Warren (D-Bucks) in January 2021. This bill would require a background check for all firearm sales. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 393

House Bill 393 was introduced by Rep. Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia) in February 2021. This bill would allow only licensed firearms dealers to sell ammunition, meaning a background check would be run as well. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 413

House Bill 413 was introduced by Rep. Mike Zabel (D-Delaware) in February 2021. This bill would place a limit on purchases of handguns, allowing one per individual within any 30-day period. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 414

House Bill 414 was introduced by Zabel in February 2021. This bill would ban the manufacturing, sale, and possession of undetectable firearms, including 3D-printed firearms. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 528

House Bill 528 was introduced by Rep. Donna Bullock (D-Philadelphia) in February 2021. This bill would make it a crime to possess a firearm or other dangerous weapon in all parks, recreation centers, and pools owned or operated by a government entity. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 659

House Bill 659 was introduced by Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Lawrence) in May 2021. This bill would no longer require someone in the commonwealth to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 696

House Bill 696 was introduced by Bullock in March 2021. This bill would create the Violence Intervention Program, a competitive grant program aimed at combating gun violence for municipalities disproportionately impacted by violence. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee. 

HB 702

House Bill 702 was introduced by Rep. Darisha Parker (D-Philadelphia) in March 2021. This bill would require all firearm sales be conducted in front of a licensed dealer or a sheriff. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 717

House Bill 717 was introduced by Rep. Peter Schweyer (D-Lehigh) in March 2021. This bill would prohibit the sale or possession of assault weapons for individuals under the age of 21. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 737

House Bill 737 was introduced by Rep. Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery) in March 2021. This bill would make it a crime to possess a firearm in a polling place. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 872

House Bill 872 was introduced by Rep. Stephen Kinsey (D-Philadelphia) in March 2021. This bill would require anyone purchasing a firearm to first take a safety training course from a certified instructor. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 917

House Bill 917 was introduced by Zabel in March 2021. This bill would ban disguised firearms. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 981

House Bill 981 was introduced by Rep. Ben Sanchez (D-Montgomery) in March 2021. This bill would add ‘multiburst trigger activators’ to the list of offensive weapons banned in the state. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 1235

House Bill 1235 was introduced by Rep. Chris Quinn (R-Delaware) in April 2021. This bill would require that all firearm sales be conducted in front of a licensed importer, manufacturer, dealer, or sheriff and a background check is done. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 1315

House Bill 1315 was introduced by Rep. Mike Driscoll (D-Philadelphia) in April 2021. This bill would require individuals with Do-It-Yourself, or homemade, firearms to obtain a serial number or other identifying mark for the firearm from a licensed dealer. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 1696

House Bill 1696 was introduced by Rep. Barry Jozwiak (R-Berks) in June 2021. This bill would prohibit state and local cooperation with federal officials that attempt to enforce any laws, rules, orders, or actions that violate the Second Amendment. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee. 

HB 1810

House Bill 1810 was introduced by Rep. Angel Cruz (D-Philadelphia) in August 2021. This bill would require that all firearms be registered with the state police and that any lost or stolen firearm be reported within 48 hours. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 1846

House Bill 1846 was introduced by Rep. Christina Sappey (D-Chester) in September 2021. This bill would require that first-time firearm purchasers receive training in areas of safe storage, suicide awareness, child access awareness, domestic violence awareness, road rage awareness/prevention, and safe interaction with law enforcement while carrying a firearm. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 2009

House Bill 2009 was introduced by Rep. Joseph Hohenstein (D-Philadelphia) in October 2021. This bill would establish the Center for Gun Violence Research to address the issue of gun violence in the state. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 2562

House Bill 2562 was introduced by Rep. Isabella Fitzgerald (D-Philadelphia) in April. This bill would create the Safe Communities Grant Program to provide funding for security purposes around schools, playgrounds, community centers, and high crime areas. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 2680

House Bill 2680 was introduced by Rep. Melissa Shusterman (D-Chester) in June. This bill would require a person to complete a Semi-Automatic Assault Rifle Safety Certification Course before purchasing a semi-automatic assault rifle. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 2775

House Bill 2775 was introduced by Rep. Emily Kinkead (D-Allegheny) in August. This bill would require a person to obtain a firearm eligibility license prior to purchasing a gun. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 2831

House Bill 2831 was introduced by Rep. Jared Solomon (D-Philadelphia) in September. This bill would create the Gun Violence Task Force in every county that suffers from high rates of firearm deaths. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

HB 2856

House Bill 2856 was introduced by Cruz in September. This bill would create a statewide gun buyback program where anyone could surrender a firearm without fear of prosecution for possession of a firearm.

HB 2928

House Bill 2928 was introduced by Rep. Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia) in November. This bill would establish stronger regulations for licensees to report firearm thefts and allow for random inspections of licensed dealers. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

Senate Bills

SB 88

Senate Bill 88 was introduced by Sen. Vincent Hughes (D-Montgomery) in January 2021. This bill would require a background check for every firearms purchase in the state. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

SB 217

Senate Bill 217 was introduced by Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) in February 2021. This bill would require that lost or stolen firearms be reported to local law enforcement within 24 hours. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

SB 226

Senate Bill 226 was introduced by Hughes in February 2021. This bill would require a person complete a firearms safety or training course as a condition of being issued a concealed carry permit. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

SB 238

Senate Bill 238 was introduced by Hughes in February 2021. This bill would create the Pennsylvania Center for Gun Violence Research. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

SB 239

Senate Bill 239 was introduced by Hughes in February 2021. This bill would prohibit firearms or other dangerous weapons in public recreation areas. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

SB 598

Senate Bill 598 was introduced by Sen. Maria Collett (D-Montgomery) in April 2021. This bill would allow local government entities the ability to regulate the presence and use of firearms at properties and facilities they own or operate. It is sitting in the Local Government Committee.

SB 632

Senate Bill 632 was introduced by Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh) in May 2021. This bill would require that firearms be checked in and safely stored at municipal buildings. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

SB 670

Senate Bill 670 was introduced by Sen. Art Haywood (D-Montgomery) in May 2021. This bill would create a competitive grant program to support community-based violence reduction initiatives. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

SB 855

Senate Bill 855 was introduced by Sen. Katie Muth (D-Berks) in September 2021. This bill would require that first-time firearm owners receive training in areas of safe handling and storage of firearms, suicide awareness, child access awareness, domestic violence awareness, road rage awareness and prevention, and safe interaction with law enforcement while carrying a firearm. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

SB 1253

Senate Bill 1253 was introduced by Haywood in June. This bill would require a person to obtain a firearm eligibility license prior to purchasing a gun. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.

SB 1300

Senate Bill 1300 was introduced by Sen. Steven Santarsiero (D-Bucks) in June. This bill would ban assault weapons in the state. It is sitting in the Judiciary Committee.