PA Bill Number: HB335
Title: In inchoate crimes, further providing for prohibited offensive weapons.
Description: In inchoate crimes, further providing for prohibited offensive weapons. ...
Last Action: Removed from table
Last Action Date: May 1, 2024
Republican lawmakers look to change gun sale process, expand gun rights for members of military :: 05/14/2015
Freshman Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV) and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) are looking to expand gun rights for law-abiding citizens.
The pair introduced the Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act Monday. The bill remove statutory burdens on law-abiding gun owners and improve the legal firearm purchase process.
“As a staunch supporter and defender of the Second Amendment, I’m committed to eliminating the archaic red tape burdening gun owners who legally purchase firearms across the nation,” Scalise said in a press release.
“I promised the people of West Virginia’s Second Congressional District that I would defend their right to keep and bear arms. This bill delivers on that promise. This legislation will eliminate outdated, burdensome restrictions that make it unacceptably difficult for law-abiding citizens to buy and sell firearms. The bill also protects the Second Amendment rights of our military service members, who sacrifice so much to protect our freedoms,” Mooney said in a statement.
Specifically, the Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act would allow licensed dealers to transfer firearms to out-of-state buyers so long as the transaction complies with the laws of both states.
It also would allow licensed dealers to sell firearms at out-of-state gun shows as long as the laws of the respective states of the dealer and buyer are respected.
The bill also would remove the regulation of having to ship firearms, allowing face-to-face transfers of gun between licensed dealers.
Lastly, it would give members of the military and their spouses the ability to purchase firearms from their state of legal residence, permanent duty station, and the state they reside in while serving at their permanent duty location. Currently, the law only allows for them to purchase a firearm in the state of their permanent duty station.
The bill has been praised by Chris Cox, the executive director of the NRA.
“The Firearms Interstate Commerce Reform Act eases an unreasonable burden mistakenly placed upon the men and women of our armed forces, while streamlining a patchwork of incredibly confusing and antiquated regulations for law-abiding gun owners across the nation,” Cox said in a statement.
